Category: General Interest

Over the past three months, the Austrian Corona Panel Project has asked 1,500 Austrians whether they have had themselves tested for the corona virus. The number of those who have been tested is rising steadily – but remains at a worryingly low level. This is what project manager and economic sociologist Bernhard Kittel said in the “Ö1 Morgenjournal”. In mid-February, 12 percent said they had themselves tested once a week or more. One month later, the proportion of this group was twice as high. Between mid-January and mid-February, the proportion…

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Due to the tense Corona situation, FFP2 masks will be mandatory in certain places in Vienna from April 1 until probably April 11, and there will also be a lockdown, which will be extended if necessary. Austria counted 2,906 new Corona-infected people on Thursday, 1,023 of them the federal capital Vienna alone. Many were unaware until the test. As of Thursday, April 8, 2021, the Vienna Health Authority and the medical crisis team of the city of Vienna announce 122,015 positive tests in Vienna since the beginning of the pandemic.…

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Medical Association President Thomas Szekeres today urged a “lockdown for all of Austria.” “The situation in hospitals and intensive care units is dramatic. Not only in Vienna and eastern Austria, but also in the provinces it will soon be so,” he wrote in his blog. His conclusion: “Lock up the whole of Austria. And finally buy vaccines.” According to Szekeres, “it seems as if incidence rates are lower in the West, but people forget that local clusters pop up regularly, where tracing is questionable.” The physician representative’s solution: “Put all…

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While Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and his vice, Werner Kogler, talk about opening steps in May, Vienna’s mayor hits the brakes. At the press conference after the Corona Summit on Tuesday, the government leaders ventured a look into the medium-term future. Both Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) and Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) announced opening steps for the month of May. In order to be able to carry out these steps in an orderly manner, an opening commission is to be set up, in which, in addition to the government, social partners…

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In Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland, students are switching back to distance learning for four days today. For the under-14s, there will once again be a childcare service at the schools if required. As with face-to-face classes, the prerequisite for taking advantage of this service is the completion of a negative “nose-picking” test. In the other federal provinces, the same school schedule as before Easter is on the agenda at the elementary schools – i.e. attendance classes on all four days at the elementary schools, and shift work at the…

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The 65th Eurovision Song Contest is to take place in Rotterdam in May with an audience after all – at least with a limited number. This was announced by the Dutch organizers on Thursday. The government in The Hague had previously announced that the ESC would be made a test case. Within the framework of a research project, it will be investigated whether and how events with an audience can be organized safely in Corona times. The Netherlands has been in lockdown since mid-December, and no relaxation of the measures…

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On Easter Sunday, Pope Francis plans to celebrate one of the highest feasts in the Church year for the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, followed by the blessing “Urbi et Orbi”. The head of the Catholic Church will once again have to celebrate the festivities under Corona conditions. The crowds of pilgrims who came to the Vatican and the Italian capital of Rome in the past failed to show up again this year. Service in St. Peter’s BasilicaBefore the pandemic, Easter Sunday Mass was often celebrated in St.…

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Most of the churches are in silent mode. Easter services are limited to few faithful, who can attend the easter celebrations. Restaurants are closed. Family members who aren’t already under the same roof will not be gathering for a meal of ham or lamb, scalloped potatoes and spring vegetables. This Easter Sunday is very different than any we have experienced in living memory. The novel coronavirus pandemic has shut down cities, economies and in-person social interaction around the world and casts a shadow more in keeping with the darkness of…

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Pope Francis celebrated the Easter Vigil on Saturday under Corona conditions, as he did last year. Because of the restrictions in place in Italy, the Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica was brought forward to 7:30 p.m., as a curfew is in effect from 10 p.m., as it has been for months. The whole of Italy is also considered a Red Zone with the strictest Corona rules over the Easter period from April 3 to 5. Most of the same restrictions apply in the Vatican City State as in the Italian…

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