Month: April 2021

Vaccinated US citizens to be allowed to travel to Europe soon

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US citizens vaccinated against CoV are to be allowed to enter the European Union again in the coming months. This was announced yesterday by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in an interview with the “New York Times”. Vaccines approved by the EU’s European Medicines Agency (EMA) would be used in the United States. “This will allow free movement and travel to the European Union,” von der Leyen said. “One thing is clear: All 27 member states, without exception, will recognize everyone who has been vaccinated with vaccines approved…

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Commentary: New COVID 19 variants could block the dream of herd immunity

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The third Corona wave is rolling over Europe. Vaccinations are supposed to quickly immunize people and thus finally stop the pandemic. But a new study shows: The new virus variants could shatter the dream of herd immunity in the near future. “Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate” – this is the battle cry of all European countries in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Experts and politicians now agree that the third wave currently sweeping the continent can only be stopped by tough measures – and by immunizing the population. Herd immunity through…

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“Alles gurgelt!”: One million tests, 5,800 cases detected

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In the initiative “Alles gurgelt!” of the City of Vienna and the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, 1,025,613 samples had been evaluated by Sunday. Of these, 0.56 percent were positive, meaning that 5,748 covid infections were detected. The project started at the end of January for employees of Viennese companies and social institutions. Since March 26, the free PCR gargle tests, which are conducted at home under the guidance of a WebApp, have been available to everyone who lives, works or goes to school in Vienna. So far, more than 400,000…

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Schools in Vienna will open today, full operation on 17 May

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Starting today, Monday, students in Vienna and Lower Austria will also return to classes. Full operations are then scheduled to resume on May 17. It is not yet clear whether Vienna will extend the lockdown again. But one thing is certain: schools in the capital will reopen on Monday. Starting with the fifth grade, classes will be divided. One group will be in school on Monday and Tuesday and in distance learning for three days. The other group has face-to-face classes on Wednesday and Thursday. Elementary and special education students…

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2,025 new corona infections in Austria

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There is a slight improvement to last Sunday’s numbers this Sunday. After 2,076 last week, there are 2,025 new Corona cases in the past 24 hours. The 7-day incidence remains nearly constant at 174.77. The number of active cases drops to 25,737 as there are also 2,471 new recoveries today. There are also 17 new deaths associated with Covid 19 infection. This brings the death toll since the beginning of the pandemic to 10,087. Currently, 1,786 people are receiving hospital care for the Corona virus. Of these, 522 are being…

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Pfizer chief on vaccine efficacy: Biontech likely needs annual booster

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When will life return to pre-pandemic levels? The Pfizer chief suspects it could return to normal by late fall. However, annual boosters will probably be needed for the vaccine developed jointly with Biontech. He has good news regarding the availability of the vaccine. In the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla says a third shot could be needed as a booster, followed by annual vaccination. “A likely scenario is that there will be a need for a third dose, somewhere between six and 12 months, and then…

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Corona measures and opening steps in Austria’s neighboring countries

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Relaxations have already taken place in almost all of Austria’s neighboring countries.After strict Corona measures and the lockdown in the east of the country, Austria wants to dare to take opening steps again from mid-May. What about Austria’s neighboring countries? GermanyA “Corona emergency brake” was passed,wherein uniform regulations for a lockdown apply from a seven-day incidence of 100. If that limit is exceeded, extensive curfew restrictions would take effect at night. A halt to face-to-face classes and the closure of retail, cultural and leisure facilities are also then envisaged. At…

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Indian corona mutation detected in Switzerland

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For the first time, a neighboring Austrian country is affected: The Indian mutation has arrived in Central Europe. For the first time, a case of infection with the Indian coronavirus variant B.1.617 has been detected in Switzerland. As the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) announced on Saturday on the online service Twitter, the affected person was a passenger who had entered Switzerland via a transit airport. According to the statement, consultations are underway on whether India will be placed on the country’s risk list. Travelers in Belgium also…

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Two million Austrians vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2

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Two million people in Austria will have received at least the first partial vaccination against Corona today, Sunday. Next week, the first delivery of the additional or early Biontech/Pfizer vaccine doses is expected, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) spoke in an announcement of a “vaccination turbo”. Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) once again appealed to everyone to “get vaccinated.” “Vaccination is our most important ally against the coronavirus and the pandemic,” Mückstein stressed. The more people who get vaccinated, he said, the sooner the situation in intensive care units will ease…

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