Viennese mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) has meanwhile attracted attention with the demand to bring national measures to protect against the corona virus to the level of the capital. He made it clear that Vienna would maintain its own measures, such as the obligation to wear an FFP2 mask on public transport or pharmacies or the obligation to test and wear a mask in hospitals and old people’s and nursing homes.
“The pandemic is not over yet. Yesterday, Wednesday, 17,848 new corona infections were reported throughout Austria. The seven-day incidence in Austria was 1067.4. So we are in the expected autumn wave,” emphasized Ludwig. Despite the high number of tests, the incidence in Vienna is well below the national average, but the number of cases is expected to increase here. The peak for Vienna is therefore expected in the The second half of October, he called for Health Ministers Johannes Rauch (Greens) and therefore calls for tightening of measures for all of Austria.
Ludwig: ‘We will have to deal with a new corona wave in the winter’
According to Ludwig, a seven-day incidence until 2000 is assumed, which corresponds to a situation between the spring and summer waves. “This could be a stressful situation for the hospitals,” he warned. In winter we also have to deal with a new wave of corona, which may be fueled by a new variant and coincides with a flu wave. That could mean an additional or significantly higher burden on hospitals – all against the background of a vaccination coverage that needs to be improved and, as a result, a decrease in immunity,” explains Ludwig.
He was convinced that national action had to be taken. He demanded that the federal government therefore increase the measures to the Vienna level after October 23, that is, after the expiry of the current regulation. If the trend reversal of the current wave does not become visible soon, the federal government must also decide on further measures in good time, Ludwig said. Vienna is convinced that more PCR tests, appropriate screening in shops or schools and the extension of the mask requirement, for example in essential shops, as well as the re-isolation of infected people are then necessary.
Rauch had announced the day before that he wanted to remain in observer mode for now as far as the mask requirement is concerned. A decision must in any case be made on 23 October, because then the current scheme will expire. There is currently a sideways movement in the corona figures. However, if there is a major overload in hospitals, there could very well be a mask requirement.
Vienna’s FPÖ boss Dominik Nepp has little fun with Ludwig’s advance. Ludwig wanted to distract from the red disaster in the Vienna health system with corona hysteria. However, it is not Corona but alderman for Public Health Peter Hacker (SPÖ) and his hospital managers who are responsible for the staff shortage in the hospitals.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
