183,000 schoolchildren already tested positive this year

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The omicron wave has hit children much harder than other age groups.

The Omicron wave has affected school-aged children much more than other age groups. Since the beginning of the year, AGES has already recorded 183,472 infections in this age group. This corresponds to a good fifth of children between the ages of five and 14. The proportion is exceptionally high in Tyrol and Vienna, where more than a quarter tested positive for the coronavirus. There have been no deaths in this age group.

This week, the government had relaxed the compulsory wearing of masks at schools in force since November. Since then, elementary school students no longer wear masks in their seats. This will also apply to all other schools; the show will only be compulsory away from the pupil’s seat. Teachers will also have to continue wearing them.

Mask obligation in the school: Relaxations for all pupils starting from next week
Minister of Education Martin Polaschek had relied on the opinion of experts for the relaxation of the mask requirement. However, the experts consulted by the government distanced themselves from the end of the mask requirement. The spokespersons for the principals at AHS and BHS fear more infections and thus more sick leave among students and teachers.

Children are more affected by Omicron
The Omikron wave has already affected children more than other age groups. According to figures published by AGES since the beginning of the year, 183,472 five- to 14-year-olds in Austria have tested positive for the coronavirus. This represents 22 percent of children in this age group. By comparison, the figure was 19 percent for 15- to 24-year-olds, around 17 percent for 25- to 44-year-olds, 12 percent for 45- to 54-year-olds, and significantly less for older people. Of the 183,472, 47,000 are currently considered actively ill, with the remainder recovered.

The proportion of children infected with the coronavirus has so far been exceptionally high in Tyrol and Vienna, where more than a quarter of school-age children tested positive in each case. There are also above-average numbers in Salzburg (almost 24 percent) and Vorarlberg (23 percent). Upper Austria is average at 21 percent. Carinthia (20) and Styria (19 percent) are just below average, Lower Austria (18) and Burgenland (17) well below.