Month: January 2022

Current COVID 19 rules in Austria

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Unvaccinated are back in the lockdown. After New Year’s Day, this means that the restrictions on exit regulations for shopping, work and leisure imposed with the December lockdown will once again apply to everyone who cannot provide 2-G proof. However, the last crisis summit of the federal government with representatives of the federal states and experts of the Gecko Commission on Epiphany also brought new measures: Since January 11, FFP2 masks have been mandatory outdoors if the distance falls below two meters. Also since 11 January, there have been compulsory…

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Nearly 900,000 vaccination certificates could expire Feb. 1

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Currently, about 70.9 percent of people in Austria have valid vaccination protection against the coronavirus, meaning their vaccination certificate has not yet expired. However, the validity period of these certificates has been repeatedly shortened in recent months in the wake of new findings on the required immune protection and the emergence of new virus variants. As of February 1, the vaccination certificates are only valid for six months after the second sting; previously, they were valid for nine months. This could invalidate nearly 900,000 vaccination certificates. But even before the…

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WHO warns half of Europeans could be infected with omicron in eight weeks

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The World Health Organization (WHO), citing a projection, warns that more than half the people in Europe could already be infected with Omicron in two months. Omicron represents a tidal wave sweeping across Europe from west to east, adding to the increase in delta numbers that countries had experienced by the end of 2021, WHO Regional Director Hans Kluge said Tuesday at an online press conference in Copenhagen. Rapid spreadOmicron is rapidly becoming the dominant variant in Western Europe and is now spreading to the Balkans, Kluge said. He refers…

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Over 11,000 new infections in Austria

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From Monday to Tuesday, 11,516 new infections were registered in Austria. This is above the average of the past seven days of 9,631. A week ago, the number of new cases within one day was 5,496 another week before that was 2,416.The number of active cases rises to 84,626, with 431,804 new PCR tests performed in the past 24 hours. This results in a positive rate of 2.67 percent. The seven-day incidence has increased to 757.39. There are also 17 new deaths associated with Covid 19 infection to report. Thus,…

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Coronavirus worldwide: U.S. reports 1.13 million new infections, Pfizer chief expects annual Corona vaccine, develops Omicron vaccine

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More than 309 million people have tested positive for the virus worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. About 5.5 million infected people have died. More than 9.4 billion vaccine doses have been administered. Even when vaccinated people contract coronavirus, hospitalization numbers show vaccination protects well against severe symptoms and severe courses. The U.S. has 1.13 new infections in 24 hours. This is the highest number of new infections worldwide so far since the beginning of the pandemic. More than 135,500 people have had to be hospitalized. Most of the infections…

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Vienna: Do not forget the FFP2 mask in these places!

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Starting today, Tuesday, the FFP2 mask requirement also applies outdoors – and when the 2-meter distance cannot be maintained. The police will increasingly control heavily frequented places from now on.▶Pedestrian zones: for example the Kärntner or Mariahilfer Straße with the popular meeting place MuseumsQuartier.▶Favoriten: especially Favoritenstraße as well as Reumannplatz are busy places.▶Stops: Floridsdorf, Schottenring, Westbahnhof, Karlsplatz – if there are many people around, the mask is mandatory!▶Markets: at the Brunnen- as well as Naschmarkt it is narrow between the stalls, the 2-meter distance is not always possible.▶Waiting lines: for…

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First omicron vaccine ready in March

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Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla says the new Omicron vaccine is ready. It could be delivered starting in March, he said, but questions remain. Shortly after the new coronavirus variant became known, pharmaceutical companies BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca began preparing for possible adaptation of their vaccines. Now there appear to be early results. “The Omicron vaccine will be ready to see in March,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla announced on CNBC. He also said the U.S. company has already begun manufacturing the doses. The vaccine will also target the other variants in…

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“Action sharp”: 2G checks in stores will start on Tuesday

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The 2G controls in stores will start on Tuesday. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) announced an intensification of Covid controls by the police at a press conference in Vienna on Monday. The “Aktion Scharf” should be at the same time an “action fairness” to the overwhelming part of the population who adhere to the Corona protection measures. For the “strengthened control pressure” are to provide readiness units as well as policemen and policewomen in civilian clothes. For the trade there will be recommendations for action, “how controls can be implemented…

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Delta and Omicron variants of the coronavirus clearly more contagious

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In the original type of the coronavirus Sars-CoV-2, about every thousandth infected person was a so-called superspreader. In the omicron variant, it is even every twentieth to tenth. This is indicated by a Swiss modeling study. According to this study, surgical masks are only rarely sufficient for protection. FFP2 masks, on the other hand, still provide sufficient protection, except in situations with high aerosol production such as singing or loud talking. Scientists led by aerosol expert Michael Riediker, director of the Swiss Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (SCOEH), came…

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