Chancellor Karl Nehammer tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday. The Federal Chancellery announced this late in the afternoon. Nehammer returned from vacation on Tuesday and did a routine PCR test with negative results on Wednesday afternoon. The infection apparently took place on Wednesday evening through contact with a member of his security team who tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday.
According to the Federal Chancellery, Nehammer currently shows no symptoms and says: “There is no need to worry, I’m fine.” He is in quarantine at home and currently conducts his official business from home using video and telephone conferences. Public appointments with personal contact want he will not notice in the coming days. Nehammer’s wife and children tested negative on Friday.
The consultations with Gecko only took place on Thursday. The Chancellery emphasizes that Nehammer wore an FFP2 mask throughout. Nevertheless, all people with whom he was in contact on Thursday had been notified. At the press conference that followed, there was “sufficient safety distance” from the journalists and Plexiglass panes for protection.
The Chancellor has been vaccinated three times.