10,804 new corona infections and seven deaths

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The number of new daily infections was usually lower at the beginning of the week. Today, ministries report 10,804 new cases, a very high figure for a Monday. More than 10,000 new infections on a Monday have only occurred on Nov. 15 and Nov. 22 of last year. The average for the past seven days thus climbs to 8771. The Austria-wide seven-day incidence per 100,000 inhabitants rises to 687.3. Hospitals are now treating 24 more corona patients. A total of 935 people suffering from Covid-19 are hospitalized throughout Austria, 264…

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“Deltakron” – New variant discovered in Cyprus

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Cypriot researchers have discovered 25 cases of a corona strain that combines elements of the delta and omicron variants – “deltakron.” While Austria is currently struggling with the Omicron variant – numbers are rising rapidly, with authorities reporting 10,291 new infections on Sunday – more bad news reaches us from Cyprus: Researchers discovered a new variant that has Omicron-like genetic features in Delta genomes. 25 delta crone cases in CyprusLeondios Kostrikis, professor of biological sciences at the University of Cyprus and head of the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Virology,…

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Health Minister Wolfgang Mckstein: Normal wards decisive for lockdown

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Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein wants to prevent another lockdown. However, the decisive “marker” will no longer be the occupancy of intensive care units, but rather that of normal wards, he said in an APA interview. Mückstein pointed out that the probability of a hospital admission is up to 50 percent lower with Omicron than with the Delta variant: with Delta, one out of four admitted patients ends up in the intensive care unit; with Omicron, the ratio is only 1:10. And: with the Delta variant, about 20 percent of intensive…

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Start of school after the Christmas holidays

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After two and a half weeks of Christmas vacation, school starts again on Monday. A “safety period” continues to apply until the end of February: compulsory attendance thus remains suspended, and parents can excuse their children even without a doctor’s certificate. At school there are Corona tests three times a week, one of which (from 17 January only two) must be a PCR test. A mask (FFP2 from the upper school) must be worn throughout the school building and also in class. The procedure for corona cases remains unchanged: In…

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Enormous rush for PCR testing facilities in Vienna

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Vienna saw a huge rush for the city’s testing facilities on Sunday. In view of the Omicron variant, these are to be expanded further in the near future. The Christmas vacations are over, and tomorrow it’s back to work or school. In Vienna, the testing facilities were therefore literally stormed on Sunday, as reported by ORF. Vienna wants to expand PCR testing servicesIn order to prepare for Omicron and the increasing numbers of infections, the city of Vienna wants to expand its testing capacities. First, this is to be done…

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Greece requires PCR test or rapid test before entering country

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Greece is requiring a negative PCR test or rapid test prior to travel starting today. This applies to all travelers five years of age and older arriving in Greece as of 6:00 a.m. local time today, regardless of whether or not they have been vaccinated. The negative PCR test must be no more than 72 hours old and the rapid test 24 hours old at the time of arrival. This regulation will initially be in effect until January 24. Travelers to Greece must also continue to register before traveling. In…

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“Safety phase” at schools in Austria until the end of February

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The “safety phase” at schools, originally planned to end on January 15, will be extended until February 28. This was stated by the Ministry of Education in a decree to the schools. This means that compulsory attendance will remain suspended. In addition, regardless of vaccination status, testing will be carried out at least three times a week, masks must be worn throughout the school building and also during lessons (up to lower school mouth-nose protection, from upper school FFP2 mask). In this way, “attendance is to be maintained as a…

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New Sunday record: 10,291 new infections in Austria

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Significant increase over the weekend: For the first time since December 1, more than 10,000 new infections were registered by the authorities in Austria within 24 hours. Specifically, 10,291 new cases were reported on Sunday, more than ever before on a Sunday. However, the past few days also saw more testing than any previous weekend. 418,952 were on Friday, 390,102 on Saturday. The explanation for this could also lie in tomorrow’s start of school, for which students are called upon to present a valid PCR test. However, this regulation is…

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Opinion: Why there are no easy remedies for omicron

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The Omicron variant takes the speed of the corona pandemic to a new level. Tactically and communicatively, the next wave is also a huge problem. It’s easy, soon to be two years into the pandemic, to be tempted to describe what’s happening in terms of human morality or even fairness. Isn’t it incredibly mean that now, of all times, when vaccines are available and the vast majority of people are ready to help fight the virus, this new variant emerges? Which is apparently also a “turbo plague,” a version of…

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