Omicron will have an increasingly strong impact on coronavirus infection incidence in Austria in the coming days. This is the assumption of the Covid Prognosis Consortium in its preview published on Wedensday. As in the previous week, the panel again points to the significantly higher rate of spread of the omicron variant. A significant increase in the number of cases continues to be forecast, with Vienna initially being particularly affected.
According to the consortium, an increase in the 7-day incidence is to be expected. According to the forecast, the current Austrian figure of around 174 cases per 100,000 inhabitants could rise to 226 by January 5 at best, and to 373 at worst. In Vienna, the 7-day incidence will range between 447 and 736, according to the forecast. The best forecast for January 5 is for Styria, with an incidence between 116 and 192.
“Still considerable uncertainties”
With some delay, the fifth wave caused by Omicron is also likely to affect hospitalizations. For the last prognosis day on Jan. 12, the consortium expects 639 to 1,252 patients in normal wards. The number of CoV patients in intensive care units should be significantly lower than today, even in the worst-case scenario, at 276.
The consortium pointed out that its occupancy projection is lower than in previous waves because of the reduced virulence of the omicron variant. Conversely, there is also a strikingly high degree of variability in the forecasts. “There are still considerable uncertainties regarding the extent of the reduction in virulence of the Omicron variant, which is why the pavement forecast in particular should be interpreted with caution.”
- source: ORF.at/agencies/picture:
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