High infection rates: What Austria can learn from Upper Austria
Persistently high incidences lead to a tightening of the corona measures. But are they really necessary? As is well known, the number of positive tests depends on a number of factors.
The numbers seem to speak a clear language. Upper Austria has the lowest vaccination coverage nationwide, and the seven-day incidence per 100,000 inhabitants has been one of the highest for weeks. Specifically: While so far 62.3 percent of the total population across Austria have been fully vaccinated, it is only 57.3 percent in Upper Austria. The difference in the seven-day incidence of 280.9 to 389.2 cases is also clear.
A development that led to the FFP2 mask requirement being expanded in Upper Austria. From Friday, October 29th, when & customers wear an FFP2 mask in all shops, shopping centers and cultural institutions such as museums and libraries. According to the state’s health officer, Christine Haberländer, this measure is the result of increasing numbers of infections and a lower vaccination rate.
The number of intensive care patients is only mentioned in passing – although it actually represents the most important criterion for assessing the risk situation because it is not decided by factors such as the test strategy or test frequency. And this number has been – unsurprisingly in the end – in the national average for months. This fact also allows important conclusions to be drawn about the situation in all of Austria.