Attention – since last weekend there is again a rapid increase in scam SMS, which pretend the imminent delivery of a package. Warning against SMS from fake parcel servicesIn the last five days, we have received more than 4,000 complaints in this regard,” informs Dr. Klaus M. Steinmaurer, RTR’s managing director for the Telecommunications and Postal Division, and explains: “The pre-Christmas season and lockdown are predestined for ordering parcels online. Many of us wait impatiently for our packages, are stressed and breathe a sigh of relief when we finally, finally…
Read MoreYear: 2021
Novavax vaccine to be vaccinated in Austria this year
The Novavax vaccine NVX-CoV2373 is expected to receive its approval this week, according to the director general of public health. In a best-case scenario, that would make it available in Austria before the end of the year. Austrians should not wait for inactivated vaccinesKatharina Reich, director general for public health, expects the new NVX-CoV2373 protein vaccine from U.S. pharmaceutical company Novavax to be approved in the coming days and, in a best-case scenario, delivered to Austria before the end of December. “An additional vaccine will reach our portfolio very soon,”…
Read MoreOmicron variant requires adapted booster vaccination
Virologist Florian Krammer of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York is less optimistic about the initial data on the Omicron variant. “It is spreading rapidly” and appears to be a good escape variant, he said. “So it’s very likely that it will need an Omikron-specific booster.” However, he said, there is evidence that convalescents and double-vaccinated people are at least further protected against severe courses. Adapted booster for Krammer “very likely” neededIt looks like the new pathogen type may escape relatively well from an antibody…
Read MoreSo far 59 infections with omicron confirmed in Austria
In Austria, 59 infections with the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus have been confirmed so far. Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said at a press conference in Vienna on Tuesday. 49 of them were detected by PCR test, the other ten were sequenced. There have been six cases in the federal capital alone so far. Mückstein also announced that the National Immunization Panel (NIG) will soon issue a recommendation for booster vaccination for children and adolescents aged twelve and older. Accordingly, the department head expects the NIG’s recommendation as early…
Read MoreGreen Pass: New features available
The “Green Passport” app can currently be updated. Although the download does not offer many new functions, the adjustments are certainly helpful. For example, you now have to select your own federal state when logging in. This is useful because the current measures do not apply nationwide. Two green fields show whether the current certificate allows entry or visiting the night restaurant. Also new is the display of the validity, i.e. until when the certificate is valid. Since this validity period has changed recently and may also be adjusted in…
Read More59 Omicron cases in Austria – another Covid wave could occur in January, virologist said
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.…
Read MoreTuesday: 2,859 new infections in Austria
From Monday to Tuesday, there were 2,859 new infections in Austria. This remains below the 7-day average of 3,961 infections. The number of active cases drops to 61,583. 388,766 PCR tests were performed in the past 24 hours, resulting in a positive rate of 0.74 percent. In addition, 64 new deaths related to Covid-19 infection have been reported. Thus, the pandemic has so far claimed 13,282 lives in Austria. Currently, 565 intensive care patients are being treated. That is 8 fewer than on Monday. A total of 2,386 Covid-19-infected people…
Read MoreMore than 50 million corona infections in the U.S.
The number of confirmed infections with the corona virus in the United States has risen to more than 50 million since the pandemic began. That was revealed Monday by data from Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in Baltimore. Nearly 800,000 people have died in connection with the virus so far, according to the data. Experts believe the actual number of infections in the U.S. is far higher. About 330 million people live in the United States. The threshold of 40 million confirmed infections was crossed in early September, according to JHU.…
Read MoreShopping with 2G proof and FFP-2 mask possible again
Yesterday, Monday, trade opens again. This applies to all provinces except Upper Austria, which follows on December 17 – and especially only for vaccinated or recovered people with 2-G proof and FFP2 masks. According to trade representatives, however, checks are not carried out at every entrance. The trade association expects a restrained start, although the customer frequency will be higher, since hundredthousand trade employees as well as employees in bodynear services return from the short-time work. In many places, the home office is also coming to an end. Towards the…
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