Austrians donated more than ever before in the previous year

At 1.1 billion euros, people donated more than ever before to good causes in the previous year—200 million euros more than expected, despite the highest inflation in 50 years. This is according to the 2023 Donation Report by the Fundraising Association of Austria, which was published on Tuesday. The driving force behind this record generosity was the immense willingness to donate aid to Ukraine. “The extent of the willingness to help the millions of people affected by the war in Ukraine has exceeded all expectations. 150 to 200 million euros…

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Corona in wastewater: highest value ever

Almost 30,000 people in Austria were on sick leave with a coronavirus infection last week, and the trend is rising, warns the ÖGK. Wastewater monitoring now also shows a clear picture: since the outbreak of the pandemic, the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater has never been as high as it is now. Now that quarantine, reporting obligations, and free tests have been abolished, the most reliable means of measuring the viral load in the country is wastewater monitoring, i.e., the systematic recording of coronavirus concentrations in wastewater. And this speaks…

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The new ORF fee from 2024: what exactly you have to do

From January 1, everyone will pay an ORF household fee! Those who previously paid GIS will receive a lower rate; those who do not own a television will continue to pay. The changeover from the previous broadcasting fees to the cheaper ORF contribution, which is payable for all primary residences from January 1, 2024, is in full swing. GIS provides comprehensive information about the relevant changes: For all those who already have a subscriber number with GIS, there is no need to take any action. Your data, including your payment…

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More than 29,000 people are on sick leave due to Corona

More than 110,000 Austrians were off sick with colds in the previous week, over 29,000 of them with COVID-19. More than 400 people were affected by influenza (“real flu”), and over 84,000 people were unable to work due to flu-like infections, according to figures from ÖGK policyholders. This is in addition to sick leave with other health insurance companies. “The number of sick days is rising again,” explained ÖGK chief physician Andreas Krauter on Monday. “Masks are a safe protection to avoid infection and further spread. People with risk factors…

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Austria expects an early winter week

Austria is in for a changeable and early wintery week. According to the Geosphere Austria forecast on Sunday, there will also be milder phases. Vienna weatherHowever, temperatures will not reach levels where winter clothing can be dispensed with. Friday could be very wet. Monday with cloudsIn particular, clouds frequently predominate on Monday, with only brief glimpses of the sun. In the south, it may shine a little longer in some areas. Isolated snow, sleet, or rain showers are possible in the north and east, with the snow line typically hovering…

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Handy signature in Austria ends on December 6, 2023

Signing referendums, gaining access to the Elga health record, and beginning with Finanz-Online are all options. The cell phone signature has been the secure entry into the digital world of public authorities since 2009. But after 14 years, this will come to an end on December 5. ID Austria is following suit. Time to switch. Why do I need an ID from Austria? The app (free for iOS and Android) can be used to complete numerous official procedures in Austria directly from your cell phone. These include changes in the…

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The phenomenon of cybercrime: online fraud is exploding

Many people continue to fall for it, whether it is hacker attacks or the son-daughter trick. Crime at the click of a mouse is on the rise. Data protection is a top priority in Austria. But for many, it quickly stops when it comes to their own smartphone or PC. All cookies are quickly activated, and lots of data is revealed.A look at the cybercrime statistics shows: There were 60,195 reports in the previous year, a 30.4 percent increase over 2021, and the trend is expected to continue as IT…

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White alert! More snow is coming

On Friday, there was already plenty of snow in the mountains, and on Saturday, the entire country was finally covered by a winter roller. The snow line dropped to low altitudes so that even the capital city of Vienna was covered in white sugar in the course of the day. The winter weather is expected to continue for the next few days, bringing even more snow to Austria. Snowfall will continue on the northern edge of the Alps down to low altitudes on Sunday night, with up to a metre…

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Vienna increases bonuses for all professional groups in hospitals

Vienna is increasing the allowances for staff in the hospitals of the Vienna Healthcare Association (WIGEV). This was announced by Viennese Mayor Michael Ludwig at a press conference on Friday with the responsible members of the city government and representatives of WIGEV and the trade union. The measures are to take effect on February 1, 2024, with an additional 150 million euros being made available for this purpose. There will be more money for all professional groups, not just doctors, as has been emphasized. The bonuses for working on Sundays…

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