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59 Omicron cases currently in Austria. New variant is more infectious, but courses could be milder. Vaccination booster works and is recommended for ages 12 and up.
There are currently 59 Omicron cases in Austria, plus dozens of suspected cases. Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein gave an update today with molecular biologist Andreas Bergthaler (CeMM), Katharina Raich, Director General for Public Health, and Herwig Ostermann, Managing Director of Gesundheit Österreich (GÖG).
“We already know a lot about the new virus variant, but not enough yet,” Wolfgang Mückstein said at the outset. The nature of a virus, he said, is that it adapts, always developing new survival strategies – just when you’re well on the way to getting it over with. But because they have learned a lot about Corona in the past two years, they will learn how to deal with Omicron now, he said.
The new variant was discovered in South Africa just under three months ago, and was classified as “worrying” by the WHO.
In Austria, the focus is now on containing the variant. For this reason, contact persons of infected persons must be quarantined for 14 days – regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or have recovered.
There are now 59 confirmed cases. In Vienna alone, there have been six confirmed cases and 32 suspected cases since the beginning of December.
According to initial findings, Omicron is much more contagious than Delta. In addition, the third vaccination is believed to provide good protection, he said. The booster should take place four months after the second sting, he said. “Get your booster shot before Christmas,” Mückstein appealed. Not only are you protecting your loved ones at Christmas, you’re also protecting the general public.
One thing is also certain, he said: keeping your distance, reducing contacts, washing your hands and wearing a mask indoors still protects.
Omicron wave in January
Health Austria CEO Herwig Ostermann said that the infection numbers have fallen recently, though the situation is still different in intensive care units – which worries experts. “We will have a highly tense situation well after Christmas,” Ostermann commented.
It is necessary to be prepared, because omicron cases will increase, he explains. Take Denmark, for example: there is currently a delta wave there, where the omicron wave is building up in the background. In Austria, this wave is expected in January at the latest.
Ostermann emphasizes that the ratio of new infections to severe cases will be crucial. He also emphasizes that booster vaccination helps. The risk of a severe course is reduced by over 90 percent.
–source: kuier.at/picture:pixabay.com
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