Category: Feature Stories

In Austria, the British variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (B.1.1.7) was confirmed for the first time in four people on January 3, according to the Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES). In the meantime, this mutation has spread widely and is responsible for almost half of the new infections in Austria due to its easier infection. However, according to the AGES variant report, there has recently been a decrease from 61.2 to 48.3 percent. B.1.1.7 accounted for the majority of infectionsIn calendar week 9 (February 28 to March 6),…

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In the warmer season, many are drawn outdoors. The risk of corona infection is lower in the fresh air than indoors. So does the virus take a break in the summer? Experts say it’s not that simple. When temperatures rise in spring, the risk of catching a cold decreases, and flu viruses also gradually disappear. But does the weather also have an influence on the coronavirus? Scientists believe that seasonal effects may well influence the covid 19 pathogen. How does that affect the pandemic? “The seasonality of viruses that are…

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More than 45,000 people are currently considered actively infected with SARS-Cov-2 in Austria. Most, 43,000, are not in the hospital but in home care. But those who have more severe symptoms should also start medicinal treatment of the disease at home – in consultation with their family doctor. Largely uncontroversial is blood thinning with heparin, but more controversial is treatment with cortisone. The use of a pulse oximeter to measure oxygen in the blood is also specifically recommended. Blood thinner usefulCovid-19 can initially cause tiny thromboses in the smallest vessels…

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In almost all countries of the world, a supply of clean drinking water is not guaranteed.“World Water Day” today, March 22, aims to remind people of the value of clean drinking water as a life-enabling resource. By 2030, the UN aims to guarantee access to safe drinking water for all, according to its Sustainable Development Goals. “No one should take it for granted that we in Austria have crystal-clear drinking water available from the tap at all times,” said Agriculture Minister Elisabeth Köstinger (ÖVP) on the occasion of World Water…

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For the ninth time, the World Happiness Report has been published, a compass of where people in the world are happiest with their lives and surroundings. In recent years, the Scandinavian countries have always led the way. And this year, too, one of the Nordic countries is at the top. For Austria, there have been some changes in the ranking this time. By the way: This year’s World Happiness Report includes the Corona crisis in a comprehensive way. 2020 was a difficult year for all countries on this planet due…

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A young man wreaks havoc in several Atlanta massage parlors, and most of the victims are Asian women. A few days after the crime, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris travel to the city. While there, the U.S. president also denounces his predecessor’s anti-Chinese sentiment campaign. After the deadly attacks on three massage studios in the state of Georgia, U.S. President Joe Biden has condemned the increasing violence against Asian-American citizens during a visit to Atlanta and called for more commitment against racism. Hate and violence have “often been met with…

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No foreign fans will be allowed into Japan for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo (July 23-Aug. 8) because of the Corona pandemic. The Japanese organizers shared this decision with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Paralympics organizers in a video conference on Saturday. The reason for the decision is the fear of further spread of the coronavirus. The IOC and the International Paralympic Committee “fully respected and accepted” the decision, it said. Ticket buyers from abroad are to be reimbursed. So far, about one million tickets had been sold to…

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The current entry regulation will be extended up to and including May 31. This was announced by the Ministry of Health yesterday. Since February 10, in addition to the registration and quarantine requirement, entrants must also present a negative CoV test result that is no older than 72 hours. If this cannot be presented upon entry, a test must be made up immediately – at the latest within 24 hours. After entry, a ten-day quarantine is obligatory; free testing is possible after five days at the earliest. The time of…

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Following the lead of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the World Health Organization (WHO) has also reiterated its recommendation for Astrazeneca’s Corona vaccine. The benefits of the drug outweigh the risks, the WHO advisory panel on vaccine safety said Friday. It said the vaccine has “enormous potential to prevent infections and reduce deaths worldwide.” Available data do not indicate an increased risk of “deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism” as a result of vaccination with the Astrazeneca vaccine, WHO experts said. They also said they found no evidence that rare…

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