Category: General Interest

Corona tests will not remain free, the Minister of Health announced. How much will a PCR or antigen test cost? Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein announced Friday the possible abolition of free corona tests. He referred to the high costs in doing so: In 2020 and 2021, he said that 2.6 billion euros from the federal budget went into the tests. So from April, Corona tests in Austria may be subject to a charge. Vienna has so far held out against this: Mayor Michael Ludwig sees the “Alles gurgelt” tests as…

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This coming weekend, the district offices in the extension areas of the Parkpickerl in Vienna have longer opening hours.As of March 1, 2022, the area-wide Parkpickerl will apply in Vienna. For parking picker applications, the district offices in the extension areas will additionally be open next Saturday and Sunday. “Parkpickerl” from March throughout Vienna – Lower Austria extends commuter offerWith extended opening hours and extra inserted Saturdays, the district offices offer an additional appointment offer to settle the expected 141,000-175,000 Park Ticket applications as fast as possible. In general, the…

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One week after the elementary schools, the mask requirement at the seat will also be dropped in the other schools on Monday. In addition, school events such as hiking days, excursions, or ski courses are possible again. Furthermore, a mouth-nose protection (elementary school, lower school) or by older students and teachers a FFP2 mask must be worn on paths in the school building. The testing obligation three times a week also remains in place. The attendance obligation is also still suspended. For the time being, these regulations will remain in…

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The weather in the coming week will be changeable and stormy. Again, precipitation and snowfall will be down to 500 meters, predicted by the Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics on Sunday. The maximum values of the next few days range from just above zero to 13 degrees, depending on the region. The forecast in detailOn Monday, a cold front will quickly move through from the northwest, and rain and snowfall will spread from early morning. The snow line will drop to 600 to 900 meters during the day; only…

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Recent data suggest a relatively small additional benefit of a fourth Corona vaccine dose protecting against Omicron infections. Vaccination IsraelWhile many are already resisting the first sting, GECKO’s Director General of Public Health, Katharina Reich, is already talking about the fourth vaccination. According to the report, the fourth sting should come as early as this summer – perhaps by then with an adapted Omicron vaccine that will be on the market in April. “It is still unclear whether we will vaccinate only on variants or refresh with a mixture of…

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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…

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Ministry of Health concluded a contract with Pfizer’s first treatment cycles available from mid-March. A treatment option has recently become available with the development of drugs to mitigate the progression of the severe covid disease. However, it is not a substitute or alternative for vaccination, warns the Ministry of Health. In March, Austria will receive tens of thousands of Covid 19 drug paxlovid. A corresponding contract with the pharmaceutical company Pfizer was signed on Friday, the Ministry of Health announced on Saturday. Further tranche deliveries are planned throughout 2022, it…

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As a general rule for entry into Austria, the 3-G rule will be introduced on February 21. Excluded are new virus variant areas, which currently do not exist anyway. Until then, persons entering the country must be vaccinated or recovered and, in any case, PCR-tested (2-G-plus). The PCR test is waived for people with booster vaccination. For commuters, 3-G continues to apply. People without a valid PCR test or booster must comply with a quarantine; people without valid 2-G proof may enter the country but must enter a mandatory quarantine…

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There are currently over 1,000 closed school classes in Austria.There are currently 1,200 closed school classes in Austria – but the case of a school that is completely closed does not occur. Schools: No masks in place as of Feb. 21The number of positive PCR tests at schools has decreased compared to the previous week. However, there are only comparative figures from Upper Austria and Styria; all other provinces had semester breaks last or this week.Hundreds of Corona infections detected in school PCR tests .In the two PCR tests in…

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