As temperatures drop, infections increase, but few patients end up in hospital. There are no exact figures on corona cases, but Upper Austria’s wastewater is constantly tested for the virus. Lung GP Bernd Lamprecht recommends a booster vaccination to three groups.
Is Corona celebrating a ‘comeback’ that we would all have liked to miss? “Infections will increase due to low temperatures and more contacts indoors,” said Bernd Lamprecht, head of the Pulmonary Medicine Clinic at Kepler University Hospital. “But we also expect that these infection figures will not adversely translate into serious diseases,” reassures the Corona expert. Because immunity in the population has greatly improved.
More absenteeism due to illness, but waste water goes unnoticed
No one knows how many Upper Austrians are currently in bed with Corona. The virus has no longer been a reported disease since the end of June. However, according to Lamprecht, there are two indications that point to an increase in the number of infections: absenteeism due to illness is currently increasing, as is contact with the GP.
This increase is not yet reflected in the state’s wastewater monitoring. Six sewage treatment plants are continuously tested for the virus, so that the wastewater of almost half of the Upper Austrian population is covered. “In recent weeks, the viral load of this monitoring has been at a stable, low level,” the responsible department said in response to a request from “Krone”. There are exact figures from the hospitals: in mid-August there were eight patients with Covid in hospital in Upper Austria, two of whom were in intensive care. There were 119 or five intensive care patients in all of Austria.
Refresher course for three groups
Despite the few corona cases in the clinics, pulmonologist Lamprecht recommends a booster vaccination to three groups in the autumn: “First of all, people aged 60 and older. Secondly, people with serious diseases. And thirdly, healthcare workers, because they have a high risk of infection.” Anyone who would like to get the ‘injection’ can do so at their own GP. From next week, ordinations can also order the new, adapted vaccine.
Still testing here
Sick people can also have a PCR test done by their doctor. That’s free. Patients have to dig into their pockets for antigen tests: in the pharmacy, five ‘nasal drill tests’ cost 9.90 euros.
Source: Krone
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