On the open stage, the Chancellor switched to ignoring Corona – but is Covid gone just because you can’t see it anymore?
After a total of 4.2 million infections and 21,000 deaths in Austria, there was a memorable corona moment at the ÖVP party conference in Graz: Chancellor Karl Nehammer drew a line under the pandemic. In the presence of his confidants and live via stream, the head of government shouted with euphoria: “So many viruses. But now we don’t care anymore.” The ÖVP and the entire country were declared permanently immunized by the Chancellor himself.
Shock variant 4: High excess mortality
Now Nehammer could actually become a Covid prophet if variant 1 occurs. The Ministry of Health only presented a variant management plan at the beginning of the month. This also includes the ideal world scenario: hardly any serious illnesses and few restrictions.
The experts are more concerned about variants 3 and 4, so exactly the opposite of the chancellor’s diagnosis: new variants, many infections with long-lasting consequences, high hospital admissions, excess mortality, severe limitations in social life.
Where mouth caps are still mandatory
Besides, if we don’t care about viruses, what’s the point of having the FFP2 masks on our faces? They should be worn in clinics, retirement and nursing homes, on public transport, in taxis, in the supermarket, in the bank, in the pharmacy, etc. Schools are still feeling the effects of Covid-19.
PCR testing is done once a week. In the event of an increased infection incidence at a location, mouth caps are temporarily mandatory for individual lessons.
No access to hospitals without a PCR test
Visitors to the Vienna General Hospital also did not notice the end of the pandemic on Monday. 150 patients and visitors stood with their feet up, including pregnant women and the seriously ill. No access without a PCR test – and that takes time. Among the patients was “Krone” reader Walter N. with his wife Elfi (72), who had a heart condition. She should have a catheter exam. Almost everyone had an appointment.
The forecast consortium also does not expect a quiet summer like 2020 and 2021 this year. From “So many viruses. But now we don’t care anymore” maybe in the end only the first part remains.
Source: Krone
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