Category: General Interest

Time is running out to decide on the future Corona Test strategy in Austria. If there is no agreement by 31 March 2022, there will be no more free screening programs. Change in testing strategy possible by decreeThis raises questions as to whether nursing homes can then be visited without a Corona test, for example, or whether the current Corona quarantine rules could be maintained at all. The government is hoping for a solution in the coming days. Only 2.5 weeks are left until the end of the month. This…

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CoV protection measures have been lifted concerning the hospital situation and an expected decline in infections – only in Vienna, not all of them. But the reduction in infections is modest, and hospitals’ situation is coming to a head. In Vienna, 6,329 new infections have been reported in the past 24 hours. There is currently no sign of a gradual decline in conditions. The virus is rampant in schools, kindergartens, and hospitals, where many employees are absent due to quarantine regulations. There are more and more patients in Vienna’s hospitals,…

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According to a new study, even a single glass of wine a day could change brain structure. According to a study published in the journal “Nature Communications, “moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a smaller brain volume and a reduced mass of grey and white brain matter. Scientists from the US universities of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin-Madison came to this conclusion. It is well known that chronic excessive alcohol abuse is detrimental to health. It is associated with cardiovascular disease, cancer, faster aging, and brain structure and connectivity changes. However, evidence…

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Pope Francis is horrified by the news and images from the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, besieged by Russians. At the Angelus prayer this Sunday, he spoke of “barbarism.“ “The only thing that must be done is to put an end to unacceptable armed aggression before it turns cities into cemeteries,” the Pope said verbatim. Once again, he spoke out in favor of negotiations and truly safe humanitarian corridors for civilians. “In the name of God, I ask you: stop this massacre!” Francis thanked all those working on behalf of Ukrainian…

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The rising corona numbers are also making themselves felt at schools. This week, almost 19,000 positive PCR tests were registered, significantly more than the previous week (around 14,000). In total, 1.6 percent of the tests were positive in the two test runs (except for Vienna). Across Austria, eight schools are wholly blocked, and an additional 856 classes are entirely or partially obstructed. In Vienna, 5,266 pupils (previous week: 4,607) were registered with infections, although a different testing system than in the rest of the country is used here with “Alles…

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The Viennese Easter markets had to be canceled in the past two years due to the pandemic. This year, however, they will be held again at four locations. The 2-G rule will only apply in catering areas unless the infection worsens drastically. The Altwiedner Ostermarkt on the Freyung, the Ostermarkt am Hof and the Kalvarienberg fest open their doors on 1.4. The Schönbrunn Palace Easter Market is open from 2.4 to Easter Monday on 18.4. Margarete Gumbrecht, chairwoman of the trade section in the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, said: “It…

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The Corona Commission calls for the reintroduction of measures to contain the coronavirus. The Corona Commission is sounding the alarm over the high number of cases and calling for stricter measures. According to information from the APA, all provinces were again put on the highest risk level at today’s committee meeting. Still, the reintroduction of appropriate preventive measures was also demanded. It is interesting to note that only the representative of the Federal Chancellery abstained from this recommendation. The Commission justified the request with the increasing number of cases and…

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According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), 2.3 million people have fled Ukraine since the war in the country began. Among them were more than 112,000 citizens of third countries, the UN agency announced on its website. On Wednesday alone, 117,600 people had crossed the border into Poland, the Polish border guard announced on Twitter on Thursday. In the meantime, the number is decreasing. A spokeswoman for the authority said of the situation on Thursday: “By 7.00 a.m. today, there were 35 percent fewer than on Wednesday morning.” She…

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FFP2 mask remains compulsory at Vienna church services. Wearing an FFP2 mask during church services remains compulsory in all Viennese churches. The Archdiocese of Vienna made this tightening compared to the Austria-wide regulations in the Catholic Church on Wednesday. Due to the incidence of infections, the diocesan guidance recommends that all choir rehearsals and performances be required to show proof of 3G. Given the parish council elections on 20 March, it is determined that FFP2 masks are mandatory indoors for all persons (election commission, voters). In Vienna, the FFP2 mask…

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