Category: Austrian News

Corona numbers are high, but the free test program is about to end. “The positivity rate is still very high at 20 percent.” This was stated now by Univ. Prof. Dr. Michael Havel, CEO and founder of the Lifebrain lab, after the Vienna Corona lab, terminated 122 more employees. This would further align the location and staffing levels with current Corona requirements. Since the beginning of March, a negative PCR test no longer has to be presented when visiting hospitals and nursing homes – meaning the last testing requirement in…

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There will also be a climate bonus throughout Austria in 2023 – albeit in a slimmed-down version. Last year’s best-known cash bonus is making a comeback. The climate bonus was first paid out in 2022 as part of the eco-social tax reform – back then, it was coupled with an anti-inflation bonus and totalled 500 euros. This year, everyone registered in Austria for six months will receive their money, albeit in a slimmed-down version. This is because for this year, no “Antiteuerungsbonus” is planned – thus, 250 euros are omitted.…

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A varied weather week is ahead for Austria, especially with temperatures there are ups and downs. First, the inflowing polar air will be driven away, and on Monday, double-digit highs are expected again everywhere, with southern foehn locally even above 20 degrees. However, the cold air will make a comeback after a frequently wet Tuesday, including an Italian low, and snow will again be an issue on the northern side of the Alps on Wednesday. At the end of the week, the weather finally calms down, and with lots of…

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Due to technical problems, pensioners had to wait for their tax settlement. Now they can finally get their money. Finally, there is money; the wait is over. Retirees will be able to do their tax assessment on FinanzOnline starting in the middle of this week. Technical problems with the data transfer of annual pay slip previously prevented the submission of the employee tax assessment, as the Ministry of Finance explained on Sunday. These computer problems are now being fixed by IT experts from the ministry and the Pension Insurance Institution.…

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Patients in many Viennese hospitals are still allowed to receive only three visitors per day, and not at the same time, even after the fall of almost all Corona rules in Austria. The AKH Vienna and the hospitals of the Vienna Health Association are sticking to their existing rules. The Vienna Health Association confirmed Ö1’s “Morgenjournal” report on Thursday. Facilities in the rest of the country are also adhering to stricter regulations. Vienna justifies the decision by citing the positive impact on patients and increased safety. “It is important to…

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For weeks, a new, highly contagious Corona variant has again dominated Austria: the omicron derivative XBB.1.5 is the first recombinant to account for more than 60 percent of the country’s infection incidence and shows no signs of slowing down. “XBB.1.5 is currently the most common variant,,, and on the rise; the other lineages are rather on the decline,” virologist Norbert Nowotny confirmed in an interview published by “Heute.” Regarding the number of new infections, the human and veterinary virologist from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna assumes many unreported cases.…

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The State Criminal Police Office warns: currently, fraudulent SMS is being sent en masse in the name of the tax office. Ignore the message! It is pretended that payments are open with the recipient and that the resulting seizure is imminent. This can only be averted by immediate payment. Another variant is that a repayment is ready for you, and their bank details are required to carry it out. Tips: Do not let yourself be put under time pressure Do NOT transfer Never enter personal bank data either Delete the…

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There are currently almost 25,000 active corona cases in Vienna. Four hundred twelve people are presently in hospital. A new, highly contagious Corona variant has dominated Austria again for weeks. The federal capital of Vienna currently has 24,872 active Corona cases. Alone, 2,253 of these positive findings come from the previous day. In the last 24 hours, nine people have died from or with the virus. In calendar week nine (from February 28 to March 6), 27,001 people were on sick leave throughout Austria due to a Corona infection. Vienna…

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The prices for household energy have increased significantly again this year in January. After the Energy Price Index (EPI) calculated by the Energy Agency fell by 10.9 percent in December compared to the previous month, household energy became more expensive again by 12.8 percent at the beginning of the year. Year-on-year, household energy prices thus rose by 40.8 percent. This was mainly due to electricity, natural gas and district heating price increases. Electricity cost brake takes effectThe price increase in this January was the largest since March 2022. The electricity…

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