Austrian News

In nursing homes, visitation rules are being loosened on a fixed basis, while gastro must continue to wait despite concepts. How long is unclear.There are two areas where the calls for openings are particularly loud – and factually justified: In nursing homes, where the majority of residents are vaccinated, the frequency of visits could be increased from one to two per week, according to the demand, most recently made by the Upper Austrian state government. Health Minister Rudolf Anschober agrees and promises “significant improvements” for the first week of March.…

Spring in the middle of winter. It has never been so warm in February. A stable high continues to provide mostly sunny weather from early to late.The temperatures rise again today to 22, 23 degrees. With a little luck, today could even break the February record. This is at 24.2 degrees – set on 28.2.2019 in Güssing. Over the lowlands in the northeast, however, fog patches may persist again into the morning. In the afternoon, the sun should then prevail everywhere. However, the sunshine is not entirely unclouded, as Saharan…

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is convinced she will achieve a “noticeable improvement” in vaccination backlogs in Europe by summer. Biontech could supply more doses than initially thought, she said, adding Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine. “We were looking at six manufacturers, three of which have now been approved and are in demand worldwide, and two are close to approval,” she said. As a result, she said, the EU has backed the “right horses.” The broad range of vaccines can also be used against the mutations, she said. Preparations…

Israel on Sunday introduced a “green passport” for citizens who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus or have recovered after falling ill. With this passport, citizens are allowed to visit gyms, hotels, theaters or sporting events, among others. Health Minister Juli Edelstein wrote on Twitter that more than 3.2 million Israelis can now enjoy these benefits. Is a similar concept conceivable in Austria? Christiane Druml, chairwoman of the Bioehtics Commission, talked about this in a Puls24 interview with Thomas Mohr. She pleads for more freedoms or for a “return to…

The Brazilian mutation of the coronavirus seems to have arrived in Austria. After the British coronavirus variant B.1.1.7, the Brazilian mutant P.1. now also strikes fear into Austria. The first suspected case comes from Salzburg. But what does this mean for us now? And how dangerous is the mutation from the country over 9,000 kilometers away really? The current situation in Brazil – and especially in the megacity of Manaus – does not bode well: the healthcare system is reaching its limits. Pictures of horror are coming from Manaus, where,…