Laboratory study shows weaker defense response in omicron

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A laboratory study by the Institute of Virology of the Medical University of Innsbruck shows that the immune system inhibits the new virus variant Omicron significantly worse. Neutralizing antibodies in blood samples of recovered and double vaccinated persons were examined. This showed that vaccination protection declines significantly within a few months. Study author and virologist Dorothee von Laer urgently called for booster vaccination in an APA interview. Even those who have recovered should definitely be vaccinated to prevent a repeated corona infection. Initial studies from South Africa indicate that convalescents…

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Mandatory vaccination fixed – every three months to 3,600 euros fine

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The Ministry of Social Affairs finalized on Thursday the upcoming Corona vaccination requirement in Austria. The government has fixed the details of the coming vaccination obligation in Austria. The agreement was not only reached as an ÖVP-Green government, but the SPÖ and NEOS are also on board. The “COVID 19 Compulsory Vaccination Act” was created especially for the project. This vaccination obligation interferes with fundamental rights, but “under certain conditions, the legislator is entitled to restrict fundamental rights,” according to the Ministry of Social Affairs. The reason given for the…

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Covid drug for people who can’t get vaccinated

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U.S. health authorities have approved the use of a drug containing synthetic antibodies to protect people against corona infection. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency approval Wednesday (local time) for Evusheld, a drug developed by AstraZeneca. However, the agency warned the drug is “not a substitute” for people in whom vaccination is recommended. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) also launched a “rolling review” process on Evusheld ready in October. The drug may be used in the U.S. only in people with weakened immune systems or those who…

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Thursday: 4437 new infections, 32 deaths

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The fourth Corona wave is now slowly beginning to subside in hospitals and intensive care units, while the number of new infections has remained at a similarly high level for days. Today, the ministries report 4437 new cases – a week ago, there were twice as many, 8882. Today’s figure is also lower than the current seven-day average of 5456, with the seven-day incidence falling to 427.6 across Austria. Since yesterday, 97 fewer Corona patients need inpatient hospital treatment. Today there are 2813, a week ago it was well over…

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Austria-wide corona rules to take effect December 12, 2021

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Starting Sunday (Dec. 12, 2021), retailers, pubs, hotels and cultural institutions will be allowed to reopen in Austria. You can read here which “minimum standards” apply across Austria in the Corona measures: Other provinces have different rules – details here Lockdown ends on December 11FFP2 masks are largely mandatory, and a 11 p.m. curfew is coming for gastro. The regulations in the individual federal states: Children under twelve are exempted from the exit restrictions and also from the other regulations. For pupils over twelve, the Ninja Pass is equivalent to…

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WHO: Omicron detected in 57 countries

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The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has already been detected in at least 57 countries. This was announced yesterday in Geneva by the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The number of omicron infections is rising sharply in South Africa, he said, but it is too early to say whether the virus is spreading similarly in other regions of the world. “In South Africa, Omicron cases are rising rapidly, but Omicron was detected there when transmission of the delta variant was low, so it had little…

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Highest warning level: accidents and blackouts after heavy snowfalls

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In large parts of Austria it has snowed heavily overnight. Power outbreaks, traffic obstructions and numerous fire department deployments are the result. Michele Salmi, meteorologist of the storm center Ubimet, announced yesterday already: “We are facing the strongest snow event of the past ten years.” An Italian low is responsible for this. The Austrian Severe Weather Center has already declared the highest weather warning level on Thursday morning due to the heavy snowfall – this affects the provinces of Vorarlberg, Tyrol and Carinthia. In the remaining provinces, the red weather…

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Pfizer: first details on booster effect against omicron

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The 3rd booster vaccination is expected to be about as effective against the new Corona variant as against the wild type when vaccinated twice. Pfizer-Biontech on Wednesday announced initial preliminary results from laboratory tests on the Omicron variant. These showed that three doses of Pfizer-Biontech’s vaccine neutralized the Omicron variant. If only two vaccine doses have been received, the neutralization titer is lower. From the results, initial insights into the protective effect can be derived, even if laboratory tests do not fully reflect real-life conditions. The newly obtained data suggest…

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Austria opens on Sunday after hard lockdown

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Vienna – Different regulations will apply in the provinces after the lockdown ends for vaccinated and recovered people as of December 12. Burgenland, Tyrol and Vorarlberg will open all permitted areas from Sunday. Lower Austria, Salzburg and Styria will not open restaurants and hotels until December 17, Vienna not until December 20. Upper Austria will probably remain in lockdown until December 17, Carinthia will decide first. 2G applies almost everywhereThe federal government specifies “minimum standards” that apply throughout Austria. The federal states have the option of being stricter. In principle,…

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