Category: Feature Stories

The Delta variant of Sars-CoV-2 is spreading. The latest example is Israel, where the vast majority of adults have been vaccinated. Still, cases there are on the rise again. The delta variant of Sars-CoV-2 is on the rise. In the United Kingdom, it dominates the infection scene, accounting for at least 90 percent of infections. Within weeks, it had won out over the previously widespread alpha variant. It is also gaining ground elsewhere. In Austria, there are about 734 Delta infections (as of June 29, 2021, according to AGES), Switzerland…

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The so-called Delta variant is not considered deadly, but significantly more contagious, which can lead to more hospitalizations, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Therefore, it is now recommended that even vaccinated people should continue to wear masks. Current thinking is that the delta variant is likely to be up to 60 percent more contagious than the alpha variant, also known as the “British” mutation. The increased risk of infection is of great concern to experts. According to forecasts, the delta variant is expected to dominate worldwide in the…

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For Apple users, there is now an official app for the Green Passport. Whether Vaccinated, Convalescent or Tested, every certificate can be imported into it offline. Download the App How to get it? The Ministry of Health has collaborated to develop its own app for the Green Passport in time for the start of the vacation season, which can be used to call up the 3G certificates (Genesen, Getestet, Geimpft) offline, i.e. without a data connection. The app, which for now is only available in the iOS app store, stores…

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Straws, cotton swabs, disposable cutlery – consumers in Austria will have to say goodbye to disposable plastic products. An EU directive from 2019 comes into force tomorrow. However, the articles are not completely off the market for the time being. In all EU member states, all single-use plastic products are to disappear from the market as of this Saturday. This is provided for by an EU directive banning plastic tableware from 2019. The ban, which takes effect on the July 3, 2021 deadline, affects disposable products such as single-use cutlery…

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The vaccines also protect against the delta variant of the coronavirus, but the effectiveness is said to be reduced, just below 90 percent. What does that mean, are 10 percent of those vaccinated unprotected, is each individual 90 percent protected, or does it mean something completely different? While all other corona virus variants are in retreat, the delta mutant (B.1.617.2) is spreading rapidly. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) estimates in its threat report that delta will reach 90 percent across Europe by the end of August.…

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Although Corona relaxations and summer are creating euphoria, WHO has warned against carelessness. The organization fears an impending wave of pandemics in Europe. Relaxations, vacation joys and European soccer championship euphoria are currently brightening the mood in many places. But carelessness is not appropriate in view of the highly contagious coronavirus variant Delta, as WHO Europe pointed out on Thursday. For the first time in ten weeks, the number of new infections is rising again, and without disciplined countermeasures, a new pandemic wave threatens, according to the World Health Organization’s…

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The vacation season is here despite the coronavirus pandemic. With July 1 marking the launch of the EU-wide Green Passport, whose digital Covid certificates are recognized in all 27 EU countries as well as Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, travel – at least within Europe – is about to get easier ahead of the approaching summer vacations. Many countries, like Austria, have recently relaxed their entry restrictions. Nevertheless, there are still different requirements for entry in the states. Here’s an overview of popular vacation destinations and the rules that apply…

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While the past few days and weeks have been dominated by negative headlines regarding the delta variant, Monday was the first day of positive news from research circles regarding the fight against the coronavirus. According to a new study, mRNA vaccines, such as those from Moderna and Pfizer/Biontech, could provide an immune response from the body for years, preventing corona infections or severe disease progression. Vaccinated individuals who have undergone disease could have lifelong protection in the first place. The findings were published in Nature. Memory cells in lymph nodesThe…

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New data modeling shows the first infections in humans could have occurred as early as October 2019. According to new data modeling, the first human cases of Sars-CoV-2 are likely to have occurred in China between about early October and mid-November 2019. This is confirmed by an analysis presented in the journal PLOS Pathogens. According to the calculation, a date around November 17 is likely, the researchers report. Accordingly, the virus is likely to have spread much faster in the world than known after the first detections. The first officially…

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