Austria ended a three-week lockdown on Sunday. Nevertheless, 59 Omicron cases have already been confirmed. Experts fear a new wave in January.
Vienna – “We already know a lot about the new virus variant, but not enough yet,” said Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) at a press conference on Tuesday (December 14th). The Austrian Minister of Health commented on the current Corona * situation in the country and the spread of Omikron. So far, a total of 59 infections with the new variant have been confirmed in the Alpine republic.
Austria reports 59 Omikron cases: “Much more infectious than Delta”
It is now a matter of curbing the spread of the Omikron variant in Austria, explained Mückstein. Contact persons infected with Omikron must therefore be in quarantine for 14 days – regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or have recovered. Omikron is “much more infectious than Delta”, confirmed molecular biologist Andreas Bergthaler at the press conference.
In Germany, Lower Saxony’s health minister Daniela Behrens (SPD) assumes “that we will have Omikron as the predominant variant in Germany at the end of January and beginning of February.” In Austria, experts expect a wave of Omikron in January at the latest.
Austria expects Omikron wave in January: lead through lockdown
Herwig Ostermann, Managing Director of Gesundheit Österreich GmbH, referred to the increasing corona numbers in Denmark. Omikron is spreading there at a “worrying rate” and already accounts for ten percent of infections after a few days. In Great Britain, where Omikron is also raging at “phenomenal” speed *, the forecasts are gloomy, explained Berghammer. It is assumed that in January we will experience “the largest wave of infections ever in these two years of pandemic”, according to the molecular biologist.
With the lockdown * that ended last Sunday (December 12th) for vaccinated people, Austria gained a head start. Omikron has not spread as quickly as a result. The number of infections has fallen, as has the number of occupied beds in normal wards in hospitals. In the intensive care units, however, the situation has not yet calmed down. “We will have a very tense situation well after Christmas,” Ostermann predicted. A high test frequency and booster vaccinations should therefore contain the spread of the Omikron variant.
Omikron in Austria: Booster recommendation expected from 12 years
“Please get your booster before Christmas,” Mückstein appealed. According to the Minister of Health, the refreshment should take place around four months after the second corona vaccination. It continues to offer good protection, also against omicrons.
Mückstein also announced that the National Vaccination Committee (NIG) is expected to make a recommendation for a booster vaccination for children from the age of twelve on Wednesday (December 15). Up to now, the booster offer in Austria * was only available for adults, only in Vienna was the booster offered from the age of 16. (ph) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
