Category: General Interest

A recent Gallup Institute survey shows that more than half of the Austrian population, 56 percent, wants to be vaccinated against Covid-19 if the vaccine is safe and effective. About two weeks ago, the percentage of people willing to be vaccinated was still 46 percent. The highest approval is among the over-50s (64 percent), men (65 percent) and people with higher educational qualifications(66 percent). Those who refused a vaccination said 87 percent were afraid of side effects, while 70 percent thought that vaccines only serve the pharmaceutical companies to make…

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Despite lockdowns, the Nikolo does not remain locked out: The government explicitly includes it in the “legal grounds” for the Covid 19 emergency measures ordinance. The Nikolo visit, together with the extension of the initial restrictions for another ten days, will be decided today, Wednesday, in the main committee of the National Council, the Chancellor’s Office announced. Professional purposes, including volunteer work, especially for blue-light organizations, were already considered a legitimate reason to leave the house in the lockdown. Now, according to the Chancellery, it is to be specifically added…

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In the Netherlands and some provinces of Belgium, all New Year’s Eve fireworks will be banned so that hospitals affected by the Corona pandemic do not have to treat people injured by fireworks. Moreover, large fireworks attract people, and this should be avoided during the Corona crisis. Recently, a ban on fireworks and rockets in Upper Austria was discussed. In the federal provinces, this issue is dealt with differently. From the Vorarlberg state government it is said: “We recommend that the municipalities do not approve any major public New Year’s…

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EU countries will receive 160 million doses of the highly effective vaccine, adds contracts with AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech Since summer, the EU Commission has been concluding contracts with vaccine manufacturers in the hope that some of these pharmaceutical companies will be able to produce truly effective and safe vaccines. Three pharmaceutical companies currently have the most promising vaccines in test phase three or are close to approval: Pfizer/BioNTech was the first company to apply for approval in the U.S., the EU Commission has already contracted and ordered 400 million vaccine…

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With a three-quarter billion euro there will be a new record level of donations in Austria in 2020. Most of the money, 30 percent each, will go to children and animals. A total of 6.5 million Austrians have donated, although many events had to be cancelled due to Corona. While the proportion of donors is highest in Lower Austria and Burgenland at 79 percent, Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg donate the most on average at 146 euros per donation. “Collecting donations was not easy for many this year,” said Günther Lutschinger,…

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In Germany, the federal and state governments will almost certainly decide on further-reaching corona measures on Wednesday. In a state paper from Sunday, which is available to the Reuters news agency, there is talk of a further closure of restaurants and leisure facilities by December 20. If, however, the so-called seven-day incidence in a state falls below 35, the following measures are to be taken restaurants may also open again before. Both Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) had previously said that they expected…

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The tense situation in local hospitals is now causing the authorities to consider a ban on fireworks on New Year’s Eve. In Upper Austria there is already a corresponding push. New Year’s Eve is still about six weeks away, but in Upper Austria a possible ban on fireworks is already being discussed. Similarly as for example in the Netherlands or some provinces of Belgium the end for firecrackers could come also in this country this year. The background is that the tense corona situation in the domestic hospitals should not…

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At the G20 summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered the international community broad access to the “Sputnik-V” vaccine developed in Russia. His country supported the G20 summit’s decision to make the vaccine available to the entire population of the planet, the 68-year-old said on Saturday at the meeting, which was organized by host Saudi Arabia as a video conference. Russia is ready to make its self-developed vaccines – three different vaccines – available to needy states. Competition among the vaccine manufacturers is inevitable, Putin said. But first of all, the…

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Since the start of the tightened lockdown on Tuesday, the police have penalized 796 violations of the measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic in Austria up to and including yesterday. In 617 cases there were charges and in 171 cases organ mandates according to the Covid 19 measures law, the Ministry of the Interior announced today. Eight further organ mandates were imposed under the Epidemic Law. In Vienna yesterday, among others, the operator of a punch stand was reported. The punch was sold from a store at the Graben in…

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