Austria donated 5.4 million vaccine doses + WHO recommends Covid pill “Paxlovid”
Today at 6:32 a.m
High levels of antibodies protect against infection in Delta
“How high does my antibody level have to be to protect me from a corona infection?” – This question has probably been asked by many people in recent years. Scientists at Meduni Innsbruck have now confirmed that there is actually a connection between the number of antibodies and protection against infection. – how high this value must be at Omikron, but no statement can be made about it, it said in the APA interview. After the South African variant broke out in the Tyrolean district of Schwaz in the spring of last year, a special vaccination campaign followed. Three quarters of the people living in the district were vaccinated with the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine at the same time. In a study, researchers from the Institute of Virology and the Team for Clinical Epidemiology at the Medical University of Innsbruck examined how many people developed an infection after the second vaccination. The focus was on how the immune response – in the form of antibodies and cellular immunity – can protect against infection, explained epidemiologist Peter Willeit. “People who had higher antibody levels after vaccination had greater protection,” summarized Willeit and his co-author, virologist Wegene Borena. The scientist explained this with an example: “If you were between 2,000 and 3,000 (BAU/ml, Binding Antibody Units, note) the incidence was halved, if you were over 3,000, the incidence was only one fifth”. These insights can be essential for forecasting and building models, Willeit said.
Today at 06:14 am
Breath test for Covid-19 approved in the USA
Result in three minutes. Sensitivity of 91.2 percent. Negative statement under real conditions just under 100 percent.
Today at 6:13 a.m
WHO recommends Covid pill “Paxlovid” for certain patients
People with previous illnesses, the elderly or those who have not been vaccinated should receive the tablet. This significantly reduces the risk of hospital admission.
Today at 6:13 a.m
Austria has so far donated 5.43 million vaccine doses
Over 18 million doses vaccinated nationally. Almost 400,000 cans have expired.
April 21, 2022, 7:09 p.m
Health Committee Extended Measures Act
The validity of the Covid Measures Act was extended until the end of June 2023 by the Health Committee on Thursday. In addition to the government factions ÖVP and Greens, the SPÖ also voted for the amendment. THIS is the basis for a corresponding resolution in the plenum next Wednesday.
The Measures Act, which regulates exit restrictions or restrictions on meetings, would actually have expired in the middle of this year. It has now been extended until the end of June 2023 for preventive reasons, as the government factions emphasized. The federal government can also determine another date for the expiry by regulation, but this must not be after December 31, 2023, it said.
Criticism of the legislative initiative came from the FPÖ and Neos. For the Freedom Party, the authorization to issue ordinances would be extended. On the other hand, a new version of the Epidemic Act would be more important. The Neos reject the application for the Covid 19 Measures Act because an extension is not a preparatory measure for autumn.
4/21/2022, 6:54 p.m
Simultaneous crises could overwhelm the IMF and World Bank
According to US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the many simultaneous crises overwhelm the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Yellen said on Thursday in Washington, referring to the war in Ukraine and the corona pandemic, that they were not made to get a grip on several parallel ones. “We are facing challenges that require investments on a larger scale that an international organization cannot tackle alone, such as climate change.” Climate protection alone will cost tens of billions of dollars, she said.
Yellen also called on countries that had not yet condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine to do so. They would also have to avoid violating the sanctions imposed by the West. The US would provide another $500 million in direct aid to Ukraine. This is intended to continue the central tasks of the government in Kyiv and to alleviate the humanitarian situation.
April 21, 2022, 4:15 p.m
3G proof and masks are compulsory in the German Bundestag
In view of the reduced number of corona infections, the precautionary measures against the virus have also fallen in the German Bundestag. The mask requirement and the 3G proof as a prerequisite for participation in plenary and committee meetings will be abolished for the next week of the meeting. The President of the Bundestag, Bärbel Bas, informed the MPs on Thursday.
“In view of the current development of the pandemic situation, I have now decided to lift the general decree at the end of April 24, 2022,” the letter says. “Of course, everyone is free to continue to wear a mask. In particular where it is not possible to keep your distance, this still seems advisable,” the SPD politician continued.
In the German Bundestag, the 2G-plus rule had temporarily applied to the 736 members of parliament, their employees and the administration of the parliament. Those who were only double-vaccinated or recovered need an additional negative test for access to the plenary hall or committees. Only those who have been boosted or recovered with a double vaccination do not need this. In addition, FFP2 masks were mandatory. MEPs who were neither vaccinated nor recovered could only follow the sessions from a designated tribune. There were quickly only AfD MPs.
4/21/2022, 4:07 p.m
Will there be an even more infectious variant next?
German Minister of Health Lauterbach points to new data showing a highly infectious omicron subvariant is spreading in the United States. What that could mean for the course of the pandemic.
04/21/2022, 12:55 p.m
After the Corona summit: is there still an influenza epidemic ahead?
The virologist emphasizes that this WILL be decided in the next two weeks. Although the Easter holidays lead to a decline, a renewed increase cannot be ruled out.
More here (plus):
4/21/2022, 12:22 p.m
Flu: fewer cases after the Easter holidays
The end of the corona measures could also increase the number of cases of flu. Due to the Easter holidays, the evidence initially fell from almost 100 to around 50. However, the proportion of sentinel samples that tested positive for influenza increased from 21 to 27 percent compared to the previous week. With the exception of Vorarlberg and Salzburg, there have been repeated cases of influenza in all federal states. According to the Center for Virology at MedUni Vienna, this is not yet a flu epidemic.
The subtype A(H3N2) is still dominant. The next two weeks should be decisive. The vaccine protection usually lasts six to twelve months. Many people have probably already been immunized in the fall.
In Europe, influenza virus activity remains at moderate levels. Belgium, Estonia, France, Hungary, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia and Scotland continue to report widespread influenza virus activity.
04/21/2022 11:42 am
Bioethics boss: Vaccination only compulsory for health workers and over 60-year-olds
Christiane Druml particularly advocates a rethink: those who are at risk must be protected. And that before the wave comes in autumn.
More here (plus):
4/21/2022 11:24 am
356 patients in Lower Austrian clinics
The number of corona patients in Lower Austrian clinics fell by 33 to 356 on Thursday. Those who tested positive on normal wards fell by 30 to 334. There was a drop from three to 22 in intensive care patients. The State Health Agency (LGA) announced that 115 intensive care beds were available for infected people. 2,520 new corona cases were registered. Eight people died in the state within 24 hours with or from the virus.
4/21/2022 11:04 am
11,948 new infections in Austria
More information on the current infection numbers will follow shortly.
4/21/2022, 8:21 am
Xi calls for ‘arduous campaign’ in fight against pandemic
Against the background of the tense corona situation in China, President Xi Jinping has called on the international community to fight the pandemic together. “It is difficult to demand that mankind completely defeat the corona pandemic,” said the head of state and party leader in a speech at the Bo’ao Asian Economic Forum in southern China on Thursday.
The Chinese President called for strengthening international coordination of disease prevention measures. It was also necessary to ensure that people in developing countries received vaccines.
04/21/2022, 08:09 am
Kickl’s appeal against administrative penalty successful
FPÖ chairman Herbert Kickl successfully defended himself against an administrative fine that was imposed on March 6, 2021 in Vienna as part of his participation in a demonstration against the corona measures. The Vienna Administrative Court upheld a complaint by the party leader, and the proceedings were discontinued.
04/21/2022, 06:05 am
Corona traffic light: Only Burgenland is red
The infections are declining in all federal states. However, the number of tests is also falling massively.
4/21/2022 5:41 am
German finance minister tested positive at IMF meeting
German Finance Minister Christian Lindner tested positive for the corona virus at the spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington. The German press agency on Wednesday evening (local time) leads from the environment of the FDP boss.
Lindner later wrote on Twitter: “After two years without a Covid19 infection, yesterday a negative result in the test center and today a negative quick test: positive.” He added, “Thanks to three vaccinations,” he “only had mild cold symptoms that subsided.” It was initially unclear whether Lindner would travel back to Berlin with the German government plane on Thursday as planned. He had previously attended the meeting of finance ministers of the G20 countries.
4/21/2022 5:33 am
Moderna is applying for vaccination approval for young children in April
The US biotechnology company Moderna intends to apply for emergency approval for its corona vaccine from the US FDA for children aged six months to five years by the end of the month. This was announced by a company spokesman on Wednesday evening (local time). Moderna’s vaccine could become the first approved corona vaccine for children under five in the United States.
4/21/2022 5:32 am
Good Morning!
At this point we will inform you again about the latest developments relating to the corona virus.
Have a good start to the day!
4/20/2022, 9:46 p.m
Video: Can conspiracy theorists be forgiven?
Until recently, Xavier Naidoo was one of the most prominent corona deniers and conspiracy theorists in German-speaking countries. Now the pop star is repentant: “I was blinded by conspiracy stories”, he explains clearly in a video message. But can conspiracy theorists be forgiven? The KURIER asked around in Vienna.