Austrian News

A new variant with surprising mutationsB.1.1.529 is a new covid variant discovered in South Africa in mid-November that could be a turning point in the pandemic. Scientists, governments and markets fear that the high number of mutations in this variant could undo all the progress made so far and spread the pandemic.Scientists are deeply concerned. Dr. Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College London, was quoted by the Guardian as saying that the peak protein profile of this new variant, with 32 mutations, is “terrible.” “A major threat”South African authorities…

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Vienna – In the matter of compulsory vaccination, hectic preparations are going on behind the scenes. According to STANDARD.AT, a possible fine would go up to 3600 euro – whereby these can be imposed according to present planning status also twice, thus maximum penalty height doubles to 7200 euro. No draft yetFixed is at present admittedly still nothing. A finished bill is to be submitted only at the beginning of December. The Ministry of Health announced on Monday afternoon that the law will be discussed by experts on December 6.…

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If new vaccines against the Omicron variant are needed, they could be produced on a large scale as early as early 2022, Moderna CMO Burton said. They have been working on an update for days, he said. Vaccine maker Moderna already began working on a vaccine against the Omikron variant on the Thanksgiving holiday. Hundreds of its employees had begun working on an appropriate adaptation of the Corona vaccine right on the holiday, which is usually celebrated in a big way in the U.S., following initial publications on the mutant,…

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Unsettled weather remains this week in Austria, with temperatures in particular subject to fluctuation. On Wednesday, the thermometer may climb back up to 10 degrees, then it will go steeply downhill again.Central Europe is under the continuing influence of low pressure and on the edge of an extensive blocking high over the Atlantic, cool air masses of Arctic origin also enter the country at the beginning of the week. On Monday, the unsettled and cold weather will continue. Clouds will dominate from Vorarlberg to the Waldviertel, in the congested areas…

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Pain in the limbs and extreme fatigue – that’s how Angélique Coetzee, chairwoman of the South African Medical Association, describes the cases of infection with the new Omicron variant detected so far in her home country. She says symptoms are “mild but unusual,” with none of the patients so far complaining of loss of smell or taste, for example. “There is currently no evidence for a change in disease severity,” said Christian Drosten, chief virologist at Berlin’s Charité hospital, as well. However, he said, it is too early to make…

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The new Corona variant Omicron is causing headaches not only because of its spread, but also because of its name. Over the weekend in Geneva, the World Health Organization (WHO) explained why it chose this particular Greek letter as the name for variant B.1.1.529 when it classified it as a concern: it was to avoid misunderstanding and stigmatization. The UN health agency moved some time ago to gradually name emerging variants using the Greek alphabet. This was done to prevent the places where mutants first appear from being used as…

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