Category: General Interest

On Monday, the government plans to decide on how to proceed with the Corona pandemic. While business, sports and culture had recently pushed for further openings, however, no major easing is likely in sight in light of rising numbers. Corona infection numbers in Austria have risen significantly following recent relaxations, with the seven-day incidence already back up to 150. Thus, no major rollback of Corona protective measures is likely. Infection numbers in recent weeks significantly increasedThe fact that infection figures have risen significantly in the past three weeks was also…

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The government will discuss on March 1 how to proceed with the Corona measures in Austria. The corona virus continues to spread in Austria. In the last 24 hours alone, over 2,000 new cases have again been registered in the country. Not only do the numbers remain at a high level, but they continue to rise. But there is no real sign of this on the streets. Because despite the rising Corona numbers in the country, the pedestrian zones and shopping streets are full. According to Health Minister Rudolf Anschober…

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From Monday, the distribution of free Corona self-tests starts in pharmacies. Gradually, the population is to be supplied with them, but for the time being only kits for 600,000 people are available, as Apothekerkammer boss Ulrike Mursch-Edlmayr told the “Kleine Zeitung”. “The distribution of the free home tests by pharmacies is a long-term project,” Thoma Veitschegger, president of the Chamber of Pharmacists of Upper Austria, noted on Friday. According to the release, Veitschegger assumed that “ideally” 500,000 people could be supplied with it for the time being. The pharmacies would…

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U.S. scientists have expressed concern about a coronavirus variant in California. The variant, first discovered in December and dubbed “B.1.427/B.1.429” by researchers, is also likely to be more contagious than the parent virus, according to initial findings, several U.S. media reported Wednesday, citing scientists. The variant has also been detected in other U.S. states and countries around the world, they said, but has so far spread primarily in California, according to previous findings. “I wish I had better news – that this variant is completely insignificant,” The New York Times…

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Chancellor Kurz Kurz and Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger support the “green passport.” This must come in the spring, they say. If there is no EU consensus, Kurz wants to implement this in Austria. Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger, according to Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, is also in favor of the introduction of an EU-wide uniform “Green Passport” to enable social life and freedom of travel again despite the Corona crisis. The goal is a digital passport solution that is practicable to use on a cell phone and can be updated flexibly. The…

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Vaccinations against the corona virus have now been taking place in Austria for eight weeks, yet things are still not going quite so smoothly with the vaccinations in the country. Most people in old people’s and nursing homes have already received a vaccination against the virus, but the vaccine itself is still in short supply. Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) reassures and assures that the vaccination schedule is being adhered to and that people will soon receive a vaccination more quickly. “Such a system, which we have set up here,…

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Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (VP) was on “Bild live” in Germany Wednesday night. He spoke about lockdown scenarios and further openings. “As many restrictions as necessary, as much freedom as possible” – Sebastian Kurz (VP) outlined the Austrian government’s pandemic management in a live talk with Germany’s Bild newspaper Wednesday night. In conversation with deputy editor-in-chief (and Kurz biographer) Paul Ronzheimer, the chancellor talked about the first opening steps Austria has dared to take (earlier than Germany) with the opening of trade, schools and body-related service providers. Kurz also explained his…

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In nursing homes, visitation rules are being loosened on a fixed basis, while gastro must continue to wait despite concepts. How long is unclear.There are two areas where the calls for openings are particularly loud – and factually justified: In nursing homes, where the majority of residents are vaccinated, the frequency of visits could be increased from one to two per week, according to the demand, most recently made by the Upper Austrian state government. Health Minister Rudolf Anschober agrees and promises “significant improvements” for the first week of March.…

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Spring in the middle of winter. It has never been so warm in February. A stable high continues to provide mostly sunny weather from early to late.The temperatures rise again today to 22, 23 degrees. With a little luck, today could even break the February record. This is at 24.2 degrees – set on 28.2.2019 in Güssing. Over the lowlands in the northeast, however, fog patches may persist again into the morning. In the afternoon, the sun should then prevail everywhere. However, the sunshine is not entirely unclouded, as Saharan…

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