Category: General Interest

Singing along is not allowed, plus reserved seats are needed for services in the churches.It goes this with a number of restricions – also in churches: one has to wear mask, observe without distance. In contrast to the Easter Vigil celebrations (first lockdown), however, the Christmas masses (just before the third lockdown) may take place with visitors, albeit restricted and with many conditions due to the risk of contagion. The dioceses of the Catholic churches as well as the Protestant parishes are making efforts to offer Christmas services that conform…

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Due to the Corona Entry Ordinance, the Austrian Armed Forces have been increasing their forces at the state border in Lower Austria, Carinthia and Tyrol since Saturday until probably January 10. In the remaining provinces, troops will be redeployed, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense said Saturday morning in a statement. The army is stepping up controls at border crossings with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy, together with the police. On the German A3 freeway near Passau, traffic jams have been forming since nightfall on Saturday…

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Retail will be closed again from December 26 until January 18, and restaurants and hotels will remain closed. And the lockdown will last even longer – until January 24 – for all those who do not participate in the second round of mass testing in mid-January. The ski resorts and lifts in Tyrol, on the other hand, will be allowed to open from December 24. An overview: 📅 DURATION:The third lockdown starts on St. Stephen’s Day on December 26, and ends on January 17, but only for those who undergo…

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For those who don’t want to miss out on celebrating Christmas together with relatives, there is an opportunity to get tested in all federal states. The test lanes are open from Monday at the latest – some with, some without registration. All people who live or work in Vienna can come to the Austria Center and get tested for free. The appointment for this is available either online or by phone via the health phone 1450. An appointment is necessary because they expect an increased rush before and during the…

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Allergic reactions have occurred in five cases in the U.S. this week following administration of Biontech and Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine. This was announced by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday (local time). FDA expert Peter Marks said the culprit may be the chemical polyethylene glycol. It is a component of both the Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, he said. Immunizations with the Biontech/Pfizer vaccine have been ongoing since Monday, and the Moderna vaccine is expected to be used starting early next week. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration yesterday…

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Interior Minister Nehammer wants to use hundreds of additional officers to control the tightened entry regulations at Christmas. To curb the further spread of COVID-19 in Austria, the Federal Council approved a new Health Ministry regulation on December 17, 2020, on entry into Austria in connection with the containment of SARS-CoV-2. “As in previous months, Austria’s police continue to provide support to the health authorities at their request during health-related entry controls,” said Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP). In order to have sufficient executive officers available over the Christmas holidays,…

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The government on Friday went into reverse gear in the face of persistently high new infections and announced a new lockdown after Christmas. Christmas can still take place “as planned,” but measures will be tightened again from Dec. 26, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said. Commerce and body-related services will be closed until January 18, and restaurants and hotels will also remain closed. All-day curfew restrictions will again apply – including on New Year’s Eve. Neither public nor private fireworks are to be approved.The lockdown will last even longer – until 24…

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According to current knowledge, the Covid-19 vaccination is also safe for allergy sufferers. This was emphasized by AG Allergologie and the Austrian Society of Dermatology and Venereology (ÖGDV). mRNA vaccines – such as those from Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna – transmit the blueprint for a viral antigen to the body, which is then produced in cells and causes immunization. “The side effects that have become known in the approval studies are frequent, expectable, mild as well as limited in time,” says Wolfram Hötzenecker, chairman of the AG Allergologie; the population needs…

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Italy to become red zone from Dec. 24, media sayThe Italian government is planning further CoV restrictions for the Christmas holidays. For example, the whole of Italy is to be declared a red zone on holidays and weekends from December 24 to January 6. This will mean that stores and restaurants will remain closed and freedom of travel will be severely restricted. The Council of Ministers will adopt a decree to this effect this evening, Italian media reported. On the other days, Italy will be classified as an orange zone…

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