The corona infection process in Austria is under control, on average around 100 new infections were added every day in the past week.
What is striking, however, is that the delta variant of the coronavirus, which was detected for the first time in India, is now also on the advance in Austria. At the beginning of June, in calendar week 23, the probably more contagious Delta variant was only responsible for an estimated three percent of new infections; in the following week it was already 13 percent. The virologist Andreas Bergthaler from the Medical University of Vienna now assumes that this mutation – based on the figures from the health agency AGES – was responsible for 25 percent of new infections in Austria in the previous week.
In a few weeks, the delta variant could dominate 90 percent of the cases. Nevertheless, the virologist now has a significantly better starting position than at the beginning of the year. “We currently have an infection rate that is at least ten times lower in absolute terms than in January. This makes contact tracing easier and, together with the seasonal effect, should also give us the chance to better control the absolute number of infections, ”says Bergthaler. In addition to immunization through vaccination, it is important to break the chains of infection quickly. Because the pandemic is not over yet, Bergthaler warns of recklessness: “You can see in other countries how fast it can go – even in summer.”
Both the virologist and the Ministry of Health strongly recommended full vaccination. “The more people are fully immunized, the less likely it becomes, based on the available scientific data, that Delta or future variants will pose serious problems for our health system and all other areas of society,” says Bergthaler. Because Delta will not “remain the last option”.
Shorter vaccination intervals
51.2 percent of Austrians had received a first dose of vaccine by Wednesday, exactly 30 percent were already fully immunized. The Austrian National Vaccination Committee has updated its application recommendation for corona vaccination and is now advising shorter vaccination intervals due to the spread of the Delta variant: for vaccines from Biontech / Pfizer and Moderna from six to three or four weeks, for those of AstraZeneca from the current twelve to four to eight weeks.
The Vaccination Board assumes that after a complete vaccination there is a protection period of at least nine months.
Vaccination appeal
For fear of the spread of the delta variant of the corona virus, the EU member states only want to open their borders to travelers from third countries carefully and in a coordinated manner. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (VP) called again yesterday to get vaccinated. Those who are vaccinated make a contribution to society. “The number of infections will rise again,” said Kurz. Anyone who is not vaccinated is at risk of infection or even seriously ill.
