Category: General Interest

News on the WHO response to Omicron: Its chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has underlined that WHO is taking the new variant of the coronavirus “extremely serious.” He was addressing ministers and diplomats from the 194 member countries attending a special WHO meeting on a possible global pandemic treaty. WHO subsequently shared its findings on Omicron to date in camera. Reason for lack of end to Corona pandemicAs long as the world allows the pandemic to drag on, developments such as the emergence of a new viral variant are not surprising,…

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On Monday, there were the first three confirmed cases of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of coronavirus in Austria. No more were added on Tuesday. An overview to the provinces. In Tyrol, three people have contracted the mutation. In Upper Austria there are two, in Salzburg and Vorarlberg one suspected case each. There, the authorities are waiting for the sequencing of the AGES. In all other federal states, Omicron has not yet been detected. First Omicron case in the province of TyrolThe first case in Tyrol concerns a person who tested…

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Biontech CEO Ugur Sahin expects the existing Covid-19 vaccine from the Mainz-based manufacturer and its partner Pfizer to provide protection against severe infections even with the new Omicron variant. “We think it is likely that vaccinated people will have significant protection against severe disease caused by Omicron,” Sahin told Reuters news agency today. “We expect this protection to be even more pronounced once people have had their third vaccination.” The variant, first detected in South Africa and now appearing in numerous other countries, has raised alarm around the world. WHO…

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The social partners have agreed to open on Sunday on December 19. Due to the lockdown, stationary trade this year falls by three shopping Saturdays in Advent and the traditionally strong Immaculate Conception holiday. The open Sunday before Christmas is intended to make up for at least some of the sales. Employees who volunteer for this day earn double and get an extra day off. The condition is that the pandemic situation permits opening. The regulation also does not apply to supermarkets and drugstores, which are also currently allowed to…

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December 1 is a significant date with regard to the vignette: the adhesive vignette and the Digital Vignette 2022 (taking into account compliance with the consumer protection period) are valid from that day, according to an ASFINAG release. Digital VignetteThe adhesive vignette (in apricot) has already been available since November 18 in thousands of sales outlets in Austria and abroad, while the digital vignette is available in the ASFINAG toll store at www.asfinag.at and via the “Unterwegs” app. Validity period of vignetteThe validity period of the annual vignette is a…

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Beware of counterfeit goods and potential health hazards: Consumer advocates issue an urgent warning against buying medicines online.Online pharmacies are boomingIn doing so, one not only runs considerable health risks, but may even be liable to prosecution, the European Consumer Centre (ECC) said on Monday. This has together with the Federal Office for Safety in Health Care (BASG), the Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists and the customs authority now important information on the subject of online drug purchases together. Pharmacies and medicines: what is allowed in AustriaIn Austria, only pharmacies based…

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A new variant with surprising mutationsB.1.1.529 is a new covid variant discovered in South Africa in mid-November that could be a turning point in the pandemic. Scientists, governments and markets fear that the high number of mutations in this variant could undo all the progress made so far and spread the pandemic.Scientists are deeply concerned. Dr. Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College London, was quoted by the Guardian as saying that the peak protein profile of this new variant, with 32 mutations, is “terrible.” “A major threat”South African authorities…

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Vienna – In the matter of compulsory vaccination, hectic preparations are going on behind the scenes. According to STANDARD.AT, a possible fine would go up to 3600 euro – whereby these can be imposed according to present planning status also twice, thus maximum penalty height doubles to 7200 euro. No draft yetFixed is at present admittedly still nothing. A finished bill is to be submitted only at the beginning of December. The Ministry of Health announced on Monday afternoon that the law will be discussed by experts on December 6.…

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If new vaccines against the Omicron variant are needed, they could be produced on a large scale as early as early 2022, Moderna CMO Burton said. They have been working on an update for days, he said. Vaccine maker Moderna already began working on a vaccine against the Omikron variant on the Thanksgiving holiday. Hundreds of its employees had begun working on an appropriate adaptation of the Corona vaccine right on the holiday, which is usually celebrated in a big way in the U.S., following initial publications on the mutant,…

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