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On Sunday, 5,226 new infections were reported in Austria in 24 hours. That’s a “dramatically high value for a Sunday,” Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) emphasized in a broadcast.
It is gratifying that after weeks of strong growth, the number of hospitalizations dropped slightly for the first time to 4,458, including critically ill in intensive care from 14 to 683.
The number of new deaths is still very high, 60.
Soft blocking did not result in any significant decrease
“The partial lockdown, which began two and a half weeks ago, has clearly stabilized (at a dramatically high level), but not a significant reduction in new infections,” Anschober says. Note: three weeks ago restaurants and hotels were closed, but shops and schools remained open.
The hard blocking, however, failed to work on the sixth day. “However, by the end of next week, there should be clear reductions in new infections,” Anschober emphasizes. “Anything that really doesn’t need to be in terms of contacts should be avoided by everyone.”
South Tyrol is observed
One of the measures after the harsh blockade, scheduled for December 6, will be to carry out massive tests on the population. One of them will be held this weekend in South Tyrol. A representative of the Austrian Crown Crisis Team Operations Directorate was also dispatched there. “It shows that we can learn a lot from the South Tyrol experience, especially that continuous digitization, its continued functionality despite extreme stress, and proper communication are crucial,” reports Anschober.
Lively influx of massive tests
The massive test that began on Friday in the autonomous Italian province continued on Sunday with lively participation. Of the approximately 350,000 people called in for antigen testing, more than 270,000 have already participated. One percent tested positive for the corona virus. Intermittent issues with transmitting test results have now been resolved.
1105 penalties for infringements of the crown
Since the beginning of the strictest lockdown last Tuesday, the police have punished 1,105 violations of measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic in Austria up to and including Saturday. In 822 cases there were complaints and in 275 cases mandates of organs in accordance with the Covid-19 Measures Law, reported this Sunday from the Ministry of the Interior. Eight other organ mandates were imposed under the Law on Epidemics.
Banning fireworks?
Meanwhile, over the weekend, there were first considerations in this country about a possible ban on fireworks on New Year’s Eve. As in the Netherlands or some Belgian provinces, for example, there could be an end to firecrackers in Upper Austria, the country’s crisis team reported to the APA. “Internal consultations are currently underway on this,” he said. The background is not to further strain the tense situation in hospitals by injuring people every year from New Year’s fringe.
