The so-called delta variant of the coronavirus, first detected in India, is also spreading rapidly in Austria. Virologist Andreas Bergthaler believes that based on AGES figures from the previous week, this mutation now accounts for 25 percent of new infections. In a few weeks, the delta variant could dominate 90 percent of case incidence. Bergthaler pointed out, however, that there are now significantly fewer cases. For example, case incidence was significantly higher due to the spread of the alpha variant in early January. “We currently have an infection incidence at…
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Almost 220 million Europeans have been vaccinated against Covid-19 – at least once
By Sunday, 220 million Europeans will have been vaccinated against Covid-19 at least once – around 60 percent of adults in the EU. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gave this figure today at the EU summit. In July, the Commission expects to receive at least another 90 million vaccine doses from Biontech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. In addition, there could be more than 30 million doses from Astrazeneca, but this has not been confirmed. The projections put the commission on track for its vaccination target, with enough…
Read MoreThe vaccination certificate brings freedom, not constraint
Soon, vaccinated people will once again be allowed to dance the night away in clubs and flock to stadiums in their tens of thousands. It is nonsense for Corona skeptics to see Austria and other european countries on the way to a two-class society. A small but loud group has been taking its protest to the streets for months. But apparently many people at home are also making fists in sacks. A significant part of the resentment has to do with the vaccination campaign – and with the question of…
Read MoreEU health agency warns of delta variant in Europe
The delta variant of the coronavirus, which first appeared in India, is expected to spread significantly in Europe over the summer, according to the EU health agency ECDC. “It is very likely that the delta variant will circulate strongly during the summer,” ECDC Director Andrea Ammon said Wednesday. She said this is especially true for younger people who are not among the target groups for vaccination campaigns. This could cause a risk that more vulnerable people could become infected and experience a serious course of the disease or die if…
Read MoreNo more free COVID tests in Vienna for the unvaccinated? Experts warns
The free test offer is to be scaled back in Austria as vaccination progresses. Those who do not get vaccinated would then have to test at their own expense, demands Municipal Association President Alfred Riedl. Corona tests over summer free of chargeThe federation of municipalities wants to reduce the free test infrastructure in the municipalities with continuous inoculation progress. Over the summer the free test offers are still to be maintained, “we owe that to the tourism”, said community federation president Alfred Riedl to the “newspaper “Kurier”. Afterwards this will…
Read More“Parkpickerl” across Vienna: more parking sheriffs needed
Short-term parking zones will be introduced almost across the board in Vienna in spring 2022. This means that personnel will also be needed – in addition to more parking sheriffs, more administrative staff will be needed. Area-wide short-term parking sticker is fixedNext spring, Vienna will become a “Parkpickerl” area – i.e. a short-stay parking zone with an exemption for residents in the respective districts. In the future, the corresponding area will be twice as large as before. This makes the increase of the personnel resources necessary, as the office of…
Read MoreAstraZeneca: Vaccine protects against delta and kappa variants
AstraZeneca’s vaccine protects against the Delta and Kappa variants of the virus, according to the company. That’s according to an antibody study by Oxford University, it said in a statement yesterday. Both variants were initially detected in India. India, meanwhile, classifies a newly detected virus variant as a cause for concern. The mutation, unofficially called “delta plus,” has been detected in 16 cases in Maharashtra state and is more easily transmissible, said Rajesh Bhushan, India’s federal health minister. A total of nearly two dozen infections have now been detected in…
Read MoreTravel restrictions for US-Americans and Serbs dropped
For US-Americans, Serbs and citizens of nine other countries, easier entry will be possible again starting tomorrow. This is provided for in an amendment to the entry regulation, which will be issued during the evening, as the Ministry of Health announced today. In addition to the U.S., Serbia, northern Macedonia, Albania, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam will also be added to the list of safe countries. Free entry with 3-G proof (vaccinated, tested, recovered) is thus possible for citizens of these countries. The amendment comes…
Read MoreHungary lifts Corona border closure
Hungary has largely lifted a border closure imposed in September last year over the Corona pandemic. People can enter Hungary by land from any neighboring country except Ukraine without conditions or restrictions, according to a decree issued by Prime Minister Viktor Orban that appeared in the Hungarian Official Gazette late Tuesday night. It came into force immediately after its publication. The border closure applied mainly to tourists. There were numerous exceptions for business travelers, commuters, diplomats and athletes. Tourist entries by plane, however, are still not possible. Regardless of the…
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