Corona worldwide: lockdown and mandatory vaccination in Austria – politics

Austria will go into lockdown for everyone from Monday. This was announced by Federal Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg at a press conference after consultations with the federal states. The all-day exit restrictions are initially to apply for ten days, but can, if necessary, be extended once for a further ten days until December 12th at the latest. After that, the 2-G rule should apply again.

The lockdown is a difficult step. “That hurts a lot,” said the Chancellor. Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein apologized to the population for the strict measures.

A lockdown for unvaccinated people has been in effect in Austria since Monday. This should continue to apply even after the general lockdown. The country is suffering from a massive fourth corona wave. The seven-day incidence per 100,000 inhabitants is just under 1,000. The situation in Salzburg and Upper Austria is particularly dramatic, with incidences of more than 1,500.

Austria also wants to introduce a general compulsory vaccination. Despite months of persuasion, “it was not possible to convince enough people to get vaccinated,” said Schallenberg. For a long time there was a political consensus that no vaccination was required. But you have to look reality in the eye and have therefore decided to initiate a nationwide compulsory vaccination, which will apply from February 1st. Austria is the first country in the European Union that wants to introduce compulsory vaccination.

Without naming them, Schallenberg severely criticized the right wing FPÖ, which is influential in Austria. Their vaccination criticism is “actually an attack on our health system”. (11/19/2021)

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Study: Corona pandemic probably originated in the animal market

Two years after the outbreak of the corona pandemic, a renowned evolutionary biologist provides further evidence for the Huanan animal market in the Chinese metropolis of Wuhan as the likely place of origin of the virus. In one in the specialist journal Science Michael Worobey summarizes key events that took place in Wuhan in December 2019 and January 2020. He drew a timeline of the first known cases, which he compiled from newspaper reports and accessible hospital data, among other things.

The fact that most of the early symptomatic cases could be linked to the Huanan animal market is a “strong indication” that the pandemic originated in the market, concluded the Canadian scientist from the Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona.

So far, no clear evidence has been produced, as there are no samples from animals that were sold on the market at the time of the outbreak. Finally, the Huanan market was quickly closed and disinfected. However, this does not mean that the mystery surrounding the outbreak can never be solved, the researcher said.

Conclusive evidence could be obtained by analyzing spatial patterns from early cases in Wuhan and additional genetic data from additional samples from patients at the time. “The prevention of future pandemics depends on this effort,” said Worobey.

The virus first appeared in Wuhan at the end of 2019. However, a team of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) was only allowed to travel to China more than twelve months later and had returned without clear results. The team then announced that it was not entirely clear whether the market was the actual starting point for the pandemic.

China does not want to allow a further investigation on site. Among other things, the US government accuses China of withholding information from the experts. Beijing accuses the US and other countries of misusing the pandemic and the search for the source of political attacks. (11/19/2021)

Italy debates lockdown for unvaccinated people and border controls

In view of rising corona numbers, stricter rules for unvaccinated people and controls at the borders with neighboring countries are being discussed in Italy. Regional politicians in particular are calling for restrictions on anti-vaccination opponents from the government in Rome so that there are no major lockdowns in the upcoming winter. “90 percent of Italians must not be held in check by 10 percent who do not understand the importance of vaccination and want to dictate its rules to the majority,” wrote Giovanni Toti (Forza Italia), President of the Liguria Region, on Twitter.

Toti called for a meeting of the regions with Prime Minister Mario Draghi to discuss further measures before the fourth wave of the pandemic hits the country like other states. In Italy, a color system decides which Covid restrictions apply – currently all regions are white on the lowest level. However, the seven-day incidences are increasing.

According to a report by the Ansa news agency, politicians from the co-ruling Social Democrats demanded tightening controls at the borders of badly affected countries such as Austria. Entrants to Italy, including tourists, must be tested negative, vaccinated against corona or have recovered. (18.12.2021)

How well is Germany protected? (SZ Plus)

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