“The situation in intensive care units is the measure of all things,” this was emphasized by Vienna’s mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) when he announced the Easter calm with the state governors Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) and Hans-Peter Doskozil.
The same was heard from him when it was extended. And also this week, when it comes to a further extension of the lockdown in Vienna, Ludwig will probably refer to it again.
On Friday, the federal and state governments will meet again for consultations. In an interview with daily newspaper KURIER, the mayor’s office expects that the decision on extending the lockdown will be made earlier.
More than a dozen experts
To prepare for this, Ludwig has invited “more than a dozen experts from the field of intensive care” to a video conference on Monday.
Although the figures on the occupancy of intensive care beds are known, the virtual meeting is intended to provide information beyond that, according to the city hall. The situation is slowly easing in terms of new infections. On the intensive care units, however, this is not foreseeable.
On Sunday, more than 600 Covid patients had to be treated in intensive care units throughout Austria. The last time there were a similar number of patients was in December. The development in Vienna was particularly dramatic: 243 seriously ill patients were in intensive care units there – more than ever before.
Five vaccination boxes
In the meantime, Vienna is increasing its vaccination capacities. Tomorrow, in a first step, five so-called cold boxes, where people could be tested for symptoms, will be converted into vaccination boxes.
High-risk patients and elderly people will be vaccinated there. Then, a week later, doctors in private practice will begin vaccinating.
Details will be announced by Peter Hacker (SPÖ), city councillor for health, on Monday.
- source: kurier.at/picture: pixabay.com
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