January 2021 Archives

Permanent lockdown looms! Corona mutation aggravates situation

January 14, 2021January 14, 2021 admin

The lockdown in Austria is extended until January 24 – at least for now! Because the British Corona mutation worsens the situation in the country. The lockdown in Austria caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will last at least until January 24. This was fixed on Wednesday by the main committee of the National Council. This means that pubs and stores – with the exception of the food trade and other stores selling everyday consumer goods – will remain closed for a further ten days after 14 January. Events as well…

Anschober: More than 52,000 people vaccinated

January 13, 2021January 13, 2021 admin

The health minister does not accept the comparison with record holder Israel, because the EU has made a concerted effort to develop the vaccine – also in terms of research. In this way, national solo efforts were avoided. Anschober also explains that vaccinations can be given more quickly in a vaccination line than in nursing homes – where there are challenges such as residents under guardianship. In addition, there are now 3.8 million promised vaccine doses from Biontech/Pfizer, the federal government remains responsible for procurement, and vaccine from Moderna will…

Corona: Austria closes 45 border crossings with Czech Republic/Slovakia

January 13, 2021January 13, 2021 admin

Austria closes 45 smaller border crossings with the Czech Republic and Slovakia as of 0:00 Thursday. “In order to maintain public peace, order and security”, border traffic at the border crossing points will be completely stopped, the corresponding decree of the Ministry of the Interior states. Affected are for example the crossings Gmünd – České Velenice, Hardegg – Čižov, Haugschlag – Smrčná, Angern-March – Zahorska Ves or Hainburg – Devin. Austria has already been controlling the borders with the Czech Republic and Slovakia since Saturday due to the high Corona…

British corona mutation detected in 50 countries, WHO says

January 13, 2021January 13, 2021 admin

The corona mutation, first discovered in the United Kingdom, has now been detected in 50 countries. As the World Health Organization (WHO) further announced on Wednesday, in addition, another variant initially detected in South Africa has now spread to 20 countries. Both mutations have also already been detected in Austria. Recently, another virus variant has also been detected in Japan, which is causing concern, the WHO statement said. The further the virus spreads, the more opportunities there are for mutations. Therefore, the emergence of more mutations should be expected, it…

Germany reports 19,600 new infections

January 13, 2021January 13, 2021 admin

German health departments have reported 19,600 new Corona infections to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) within one day. In addition, 1,060 new deaths were recorded within 24 hours, the RKI announced Wednesday morning. The peak of 1,188 new deaths had been reached on Friday. The highest number of new infections registered within 24 hours, 33,777, was reported on Dec. 18 – but that included 3,500 subsequent reports. In principle, the interpretation of the data is currently still somewhat difficult, because around the turn of the year Corona cases were discovered,…

Health Minister Anschober: FFP2 mask obligation also conceivable in Austria

January 13, 2021January 13, 2021 admin

According to Health Minister Rudolf Anschober, a compulsory FFP2 mask, as in Bavaria, is also “a thought option” in Austria. In the “Ö1 Morgenjournal” Anschober says that the question is where the obligation should be imposed and what capacities there are. That is currently a subject of negotiation, he said. “We are also making very precise short work of this with international health authorities,” says Anschober. He added that we are currently in a key situation with regard to viral mutation. “You can’t do much more in this situation,” says…

Distance learning in Austrian schools might be extended

January 13, 2021January 13, 2021 admin

Signs point to an extension of distance learning in schools. According to plan, face-to-face classes were to start again as early as next Monday. But now schools could remain closed until the semester break after all. This has apparently been confirmed to the “Kronen Zeitung” from government circles. The daily newspaper “Österreich” also reports this. There is no official statement on this yet. Education Minister Heinz Faßmann wanted to announce a decision by the middle of the week at the latest. At the moment, according to the Chancellor’s Office, talks…

Austria faces 10 more weeks of lockdown

January 13, 2021January 13, 2021 admin

Germany may extend lockdown until Easter because of the British Covid mutation. Now Austria also faces the threat of an extension. Since December 26, Austria has been in its third hard lockdown. And could remain so for even longer. heute.at published the following details: In Germany, the lockdown could last until early April instead of January 31. “If we don’t manage to hold off this British virus, we’ll have a tenfold incidence by Easter,” Merkel told the Bild newspaper. In the Slovakian capital, 50 percent of new infections are already…

Vienna rehearses mass vaccination

January 12, 2021January 12, 2021 admin

A first large-scale vaccination campaign will take place in Vienna this weekend. Physicians in private practice, their office staff, employees in mobile care, paramedics in emergency services and midwives will receive their first vaccination from January 15 to 18, 2021 at the Messe Wien. In one hall, 14 vaccination lanes will be set up, 11,000 people are expected to receive their vaccination during these days. Registration will take place through the respective organizations. “We want to see how many people we can vaccinate in a short time, if the vaccine…