“Then we could start the first vaccinations in January.”

Health Minister Rudi Anschober (Greens) statement on Tuesday about the start of “phase four” of the pandemic fight lasted about an hour. He saved a surprise for last. If the promises of the producers are kept and the authorities approve a market approval, “then we could start with the first vaccinations in Austria already in January.” Specifically, it is about 600,000 doses of vaccine that Austria intends to buy from the EU in a first installment. 300,000 Austrians will be vaccinated with it, preferably people working in the health professions or in the care sector.

He will vaccinate himself, Anschober said. Expect at least 50 percent of Austrians to take the same step. The Health Minister specifically praised the EU, which had already signed a contract with the pharmaceutical company Astra Zeneca to buy the vaccine.

Editorial on the subject: “The Health Minister dares to advance a forecast,” writes OÖN policy editor Wolfgang Braun. [OÖNplus]

Long-planned speech

But until then there is still a long way to go. Like Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (VP) before, Anschober noted that the next few months could be challenging. Apparently, Anschober wanted to avoid the impression that his speech was a reaction to Kurz’s explanation: he had planned detailed information at the beginning of phase four for a long time.

After the closure, the first relaxation in mid-April and the opening of the borders, as well as the return of tourism, Austria entered phase four with the meteorological start of autumn. At this stage, it is now about limiting the risk of a second wave. Anchober recalled previous pandemics from the Spanish flu to the Russian or Hong Kong flu. Each time the second wave was stronger.

There are already too many infections. “The number is too high, too soon. The virus has fully returned and is more visible.” But you don’t have to dramatize, you actually know exactly why the numbers have increased. As is often the case, Anschober backed up his statements with a graph. The good news is that there has been little change in the death rate, hospitalized patients and the number of intensive care patients.

Fewer deaths

“Mortality has decreased in recent weeks,” Anschober said. Those infected are on average 30 years old, in April this value was 59 years. Three-quarters of the deaths were older than 74 years. Today we know more about infections, effects and therapy. However, what you do not know is if and when the virus will mutate.

Once again, the Minister of Health requested that hygiene and distance rules be respected and that protection for the mouth and nose be used, which also protects against other diseases. He expects the flu to peak between December and March, increasing the risk of a second wave. Anschober referred to the corona traffic light, which will be used to deal with the pandemic in the future. There will be no recommendation for a lock even with red.

After criticizing the unsuccessful regulations and bills, Anschober stood in front of his employees. “Yes, criticize me, criticism takes us further.” But criticism should go to him and not to employees who have a seven-day week to deal with the crisis. He promised a staff increase in the health department and announced the installation of a council of legal experts.

Tighter crown measurements:

• Today the Council of Ministers meets for the first time since the summer recess. There is something explosive on the agenda: the tightening of the crown measures. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (VP) had announced enhancements to the ORF Summer Talk due to increased crown numbers. I didn’t owe any details. The Minister of Health, Rudi Anschober (Greens), did not want to say anything concrete yesterday either.
• Between the lines, you could hear that Anschober shouldn’t plan any changes to events. Indoor events with 5,000 and outdoor events with 10,000 spectators have been possible since September 1. He is looking forward to soccer games, Anschober said. He also referred to the Salzburg Festival, where there was no case of contagion. There will be requirements for the winter season, he admitted. It is still uncertain whether there will be balls and winter markets. If someone asks you what Christmas will be like, you can only answer, “We don’t know.”
• The Corona traffic light, which determines when action should be taken in a region, is meant to remedy this. More recently there were reports that in the dress rehearsal of the federal states expert commission, a yellow traffic light should have objected. Anschober announced that in unclear cases, experts will decide the color of the traffic light with a two-thirds majority.

Article of

Annette gantner

National Policy Editor

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