Numerous compatriots are currently reporting about people in their area who are ill with Covid-19 or have recently recovered. “We are heading for one of the highest Covid waves ever,” says molecular biologist Ulrich Elling. “We do not expect overcrowded intensive care units, but otherwise the usual,” the scientist writes.
With the onset of cold weather, this has been expected for a long time, so there is no need to be surprised. The trend is currently clearly visible in “several European countries, as far as data is available,” Elling continued on X (formerly Twitter). For example, he explained that corona waves occur counter-cyclically with a cold. “And the snotty days of back to school are over.”
“Now it was quiet for a long time…”
“Before you react with surprise again, the first Omicron wave hit a population that had recently been vaccinated three times or had recovered from the delta. Now it was quiet for a long time. “Also when it comes to vaccination… The vaccination fits in well with the current variants,” the biologist continues.
According to AGES, the variants in Austria are currently around XBB.1.5 or BA.2.86. For example, depending on the variant, the number of days between infection and outbreak varies. This can be about five to six days, but also up to two weeks.
No longer required to report
Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing, loss of smell and taste, and body aches. But there are also asymptomatic forms. Since July 1, Covid-19 is no longer a reportable disease in Austria. At that time, a total of more than six million cases had been reported in this country, with the peak being in March 2022.
Few in the hospital
The well-known virologist Monika Redlberger-Fritz also recently said that we were in a Corona wave again. About 500 patients are being treated in hospital for Covid-19, which fortunately is “still not that many”. There are several medications available, such as Paxlovid, to treat corona infections. Redlberger-Fritz and Elling also recommend well-known measures such as vaccinations, wearing masks and showing mutual respect.
Renew protection annually
As of June 30, 2023, 77.2 percent of the Austrian population had been vaccinated against Covid-19 at least once, 74.8 percent completely. The percentage of booster vaccinations (after the third vaccination) was 60.5 percent. The National Vaccination Agency currently advises healthy people to wait at least six months before vaccination after an infection or the last corona vaccination. One year is ideal. The vaccine is offered, among other things, in many doctors’ practices and in the health centers of the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK).
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
