For the third weekend in a row, thousands of people took to the streets in Vienna on Saturday to protest against the currently applicable lockdown and the announced compulsory corona vaccination. According to the police, more than 40,000 people took part, and there were also around 1,500 counter-demonstrators. 1,200 police officers were on duty. Despite announcements that an FFP2 mask is compulsory at the rallies, the overwhelming majority, according to the police, did not adhere to it.
There were five arrests during the afternoon and two officers were injured. Protesters threw pyrotechnics and the security forces used tear gas, the police said. In Austria, a nationwide lockdown has been in effect again since November 22nd – for those who have been vaccinated and recovered as well as for those who have not been vaccinated. Restaurants, cafes, hotels, retail and leisure and cultural facilities are closed. Only shops for daily needs are open. From the beginning of February there should be compulsory vaccination. (5.12.2021)
Infection numbers in Portugal are increasing rapidly
Despite having one of the world’s highest vaccination rates, Portugal is also seeing a rapid increase in the number of infections. The health authorities in Lisbon reported on Saturday with 5649 new cases registered within 24 hours, the highest value since February 6. There were also 22 new deaths.
The seven-day incidence rose from around 100 in mid-November to 193 most recently. This means that the country, which has a vaccination rate of around 88 percent, is still in a significantly better position than many other countries in Europe. The left government in Lisbon emphasizes that caution must be exercised. But the country is “far from a red alert,” said Presidential Minister Mariana Vieira da Silva. The situation in the intensive care units is still uncritical, 130 intensive care beds were last occupied with Covid patients, last winter there were more than 800.
New measures to contain the pandemic have been in place since Wednesday. All visitors arriving by air must have a negative test, even if they are vaccinated. Vaccinated and convalescent people, as well as unvaccinated people, have to submit a negative test when visiting bars and discos, hospitals and retirement homes and major events without fixed numbered places. In addition, a general mask requirement was introduced again in all closed public spaces. (December 04, 2021)
Ireland is closing night clubs and tightening rules
The residents of Ireland have to adjust to stricter corona measures again due to the high number of cases and the Omikron variant. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin announced in Dublin that clubs would have to close again for an initial month from December 7th and theaters or cinemas should only occupy half of their capacity. The risk of going into the Christmas season without stricter measures is “simply too high,” said the head of government, according to the Irish broadcaster RTÉ. He accepted the suggestions of his scientific advisors. There are also contact restrictions for private meetings at home: a maximum of members of four households are allowed to meet. Restaurants and pubs would still have to close at midnight and follow strict distance rules. Proof of immunity is required for fitness studios and restaurants.
Belgium has also once again announced stricter corona rules. From next week on, indoor events with more than 200 people are to be banned. The schools should go into the winter holidays earlier and sometimes longer and it is recommended that private meetings be restricted as much as possible, as Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced. Most recently, more people were infected every day than ever before in the pandemic in the country with 11.5 million inhabitants. On average there were almost 18,000 people. The number of hospital admissions has also risen sharply. (December 3rd, 2021)
Poland and Switzerland are high-risk areas again
Because of the high number of corona infections, the federal government will upgrade Poland and Switzerland from Sunday as high risk areasas announced by the Robert Koch Institute. Liechtenstein, Jordan and Mauritius are also classified in this way. Thailand, Uzbekistan and the Caribbean island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be removed from the risk list.
Anyone who enters from a high-risk area and is not fully vaccinated or recovered has to be in quarantine for ten days and can only get rid of it with a negative test five days after arrival at the earliest. The classification as a high-risk area is automatically accompanied by a travel warning from the Federal Foreign Office for unnecessary tourist trips. It makes it easier for tourists to cancel trips that have already been booked free of charge, but does not mean a travel ban. (December 3rd, 2021)
Noticeably high number of Omicron infections in children in South Africa
A surprising number of children in South Africa are infected with the new Omikron coronavirus variant. There is an increase in hospital admissions in the age group under five, said researcher Michelle Groome of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). In the area around the capital Pretoria alone, around 100 younger children have been admitted in the past two weeks. That is what distinguishes the fourth wave from the previous waves. NICD doctor Waasila Jassat said that the parents of all hospitalized patients under the age of five were not vaccinated. Groome emphasized, however, that it was still too early to draw scientifically sound conclusions from the data available so far.
In view of the rapid spread of Omikron, the South African government wants to discuss stricter pandemic measures in the coming week. The number of infections in South Africa has increased significantly compared to the previous week. According to the health organization of the African Union, more than 52,000 new infections were counted across Africa last week – 105 percent more than in the previous week. Around 31,000 new infections occurred in South Africa. The province of Gauteng, which includes Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria, is the epicenter of the Omicron eruption. According to the NICD, the R value there is now 2.33. Accordingly, each infected person infects an average of 2.33 other people. (03.12.2021)
Google employees should continue to work from home
The US technology company Google is postponing its plan to let its employees return to their jobs worldwide from January 10th indefinitely. As the company reports, the reasons are growing concerns about the Omikron variant and resistance to the vaccinations prescribed by Google. The company has been one of the first since the pandemic began to ask its employees to switch to the home office. (03.12.2021)
Study: Biontech and Moderna are best suited as boosters
According to the British study “COV-Boost”, the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer / Biontech and Moderna are best suited for a third booster vaccination. The study found that a full or half dose of Pfizer / Biontech, or a full dose of Moderna, was very effective in increasing both antibody and T cell levels. When Astra Zeneca, Novavax, Johnson & Johnson, and Curevac were given as booster vaccines, they also increased antibody levels for both primary vaccines, albeit to a lesser extent. (03.12.2021)
Despite isolation, Australia also reports its first Omikron case
Despite the restrictions on international visitors, Australia is reporting an initial transmission of the Omicron virus. “I suspect that Omikron will be the new virus in the world in the next few months,” Paul Kelly, the Australian government’s top medical adviser, told reporters. At this point in time, there is no evidence that the variant is more dangerous than Delta, Kelly said. A total of nine confirmed infections with the Omikron variant have already been reported in Australia. In addition to Australia, Malaysia has now also reported its first case of the new coronavirus variant. (03.12.2021)
USA tighten entry regulations
In view of the new Omikron variant and the upcoming winter, the US government is tightening the entry rules. The negative corona tests to be submitted may in future only be 24 hours old. So far, a period of three days before entry has applied. The new regulation affects all international travelers regardless of nationality and vaccination status. In addition, foreigners usually have to prove a full Covid-19 vaccination before they can travel by plane to the USA. A US government official said both antigen and PCR tests would continue to be accepted. The effectiveness of the tests, for example against the Omikron variant, is constantly checked.
The tightening is part of new measures in the fight against Corona, which US President Joe Biden presented on Thursday. This includes, for example, that the mask requirement in planes, trains and other public transport as well as in airports and train stations is extended to at least March. Turning to the Omicron variant, Biden said, “We will fight this variant with science and speed, not with chaos and confusion.” (03.12.2021)