Omicron already dominant in Vienna

Spread the love

Read Time:2 Minute, 3 Second

The Omicron wave is rolling on and has now reached a first, sad, milestone. The new Corona variant is already the dominant one in Vienna, as the office of Vienna’s city health councillor Peter Hacker (SPÖ) toldthe daily newspaper “standard”. So over the Christmas holidays, Omicron prevailed over Delta. As recently as Tuesday, there were 266 active cases in the federal capital. On Sunday, there were already 552 current Omicron infected. An increase of more than 100 percent.

According to Hacker’s office, this trend was observed in the area of “relevant infection activity.” Specifically, this means counting PCR tests in which infected individuals had a CT score below 30 – meaning they were still infectious at the time the test was given.

More infected people expected
The Hacker office expects the omicron count to grow over the course of the next few days. Due to holidays, results would be reported with a delay of up to two days. While the Omicron variant took up around 40 percent of the infection incidence on the Wednesday before Christmas, it cracked the 50 percent mark on St. Stephen’s Day, according to the Vienna City Health Council office.

Meanwhile, Hacker’s office assumes that the Omicron variant is already the dominant variant throughout Austria – despite the lack of figures. Moreover, it is believed that the first signs of the fifth wave are likely to make themselves felt before the turn of the year.

The Corona Commission already assumed on Christmas Day that Omicron would account for more than 50 percent of new infections Austria-wide next week.

Tightening as of Monday
For this reason, the general lockdown for unvaccinated people also resumes from Monday. But also for vaccinated and recovered people the Corona rules will be tightened due to the spreading Omicron variant. This mainly affects events, but also the restaurant industry. The closing time for pubs will be brought forward to 10pm. Events as well as meetings without assigned seating are limited to 25 people. With assigned seating, events with a maximum of 500 visitors are possible under the 2-G rule.

If these also have a PCR test (2-G plus), up to 1,000 people are allowed. And then there is now also the category “boosted and tested”. Those who already have three stings and are also PCR-tested are allowed to participate in events with up to 2,000 people. All of this applies inside as well as outside.