The claim

The sending of passes that allows nurses to go outside the home in the event of a blackout curfew is seen as an indication that there is a high risk of blackouts in Vienna.

Our conclusion

This “passer’s pass” is part of the city of Vienna’s crisis management. The aim here is to ensure that key workers, including nursing staff, can carry out their work in the event of a blackout. This does not mean that the city of Vienna is expecting a blackout soon.

The letter, which is referred to as a "passer's pass", has the subject: "Confirmation from the Vienna Health Association for workers in critical infrastructure or in public services in connection with a curfew (sic!) in the event of a blackout"

Screenshot: Passes for nurses in Vienna due to blackout
Screenshot: Passes for nurses in Vienna due to blackout

“It is hereby confirmed that the employee... has to carry out the following urgent task and is considered a key employee of our company within the framework of the existing curfew in Austria.
Type of task: Key personnel nursing
[…]“

Text in the letter

This confirmation allows key workers - such as nursing staff in this case - to go out during a curfew to do their work.

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Since there is a typo in the subject, users have doubted its authenticity. However, the letter is genuine, as the Vienna Health Association (Wigev) confirmed to the Standard .

___STEADY_PAYWALL___

Keyword crisis management

Sending the letters is part of crisis management. They are “part of the normal procedure as part of the city of Vienna’s crisis management,” a spokeswoman explained to the Standard.

Hospitals are critical infrastructure. These must remain functional and be able to be continued at all times.

However, sending exit confirmations does not mean that a blackout is expected soon.

But why is this letter coming now?

This question bothers some people because they suspect that a blackout is imminent behind the mail.

“It's better to be safe than sorry,” our grandmas used to say, and that's exactly how it is with crisis management.

If a blackout ever occurs, precautions must be taken. It is important that measures necessary for the continuation of critical infrastructure are already planned. It is important that staff are also instructed on how to behave in emergencies. Effects and possible restrictions must be considered and included in the planning.

The City of Vienna's crisis management has long been dealing with a wide variety of scenarios that could occur in the event of a power shortage. Plans are drawn up, exercises are carried out.

Crisis management of the Vienna Health Association

The Vienna Health Association is part of Vienna's crisis management and of course also has to take precautions for possible emergencies. This also includes sending the exit confirmation just in case.

These precautions to be taken are also regulated by law. Operation plans for hospitals can also be found under “Entire legal provisions for the Vienna Disaster Relief and Crisis Management Act, version dated February 15, 2023”

§ 4. (1) The legal entities of hospitals must provide organizational measures to expand reception and treatment capacities in the event of an event in accordance with Section 2 Paragraphs 1 and 2 and draw up appropriate operational plans.
(2) If necessary, but at least every three years, the operational plans must be checked for completeness and, if necessary, revised and brought up to date.

Several scenarios were also played out here, starting with hour-long local power outages and ending with a blackout lasting several days. This ensures that the precautions taken also meet the legally prescribed requirements. In addition to technical aspects, this also includes the organizational process. And of course, nursing staff also have to be taken into account.

Conclusion

Mimikama Rating: TRUE

The letter is genuine, it was sent by the Vienna Health Association and is part of the normal procedure as part of the city of Vienna's crisis management.

However, sending it now does not mean that Vienna or Austria are now facing a blackout.

Many people are familiar with fire alarm drills in their companies. And hardly anyone suspects that a fire will break out the next day.

Source:

Standard , Crisis Management City of Vienna

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