927 people were in the hospital on Wednesday morning, 66 fewer than were reported the day before, but 22 more than a week ago. 57 people are being looked after in intensive care units, seven fewer than on Tuesday, but three more in a weekly comparison.
The number of positive test results is above the average of 5,621 new infections over the past seven days. The seven-day incidence rose from 414 to 436 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in a daily comparison. In total, the Covid 19 pandemic has claimed 20,690 lives in Austria so far. One death was reported the day before.
The increase in reported corona infections in the past two weeks has already led to a slight increase in hospital occupancy. This trend in hospitals is likely to continue according to Wednesday’s Covid forecast. In two weeks, the model computers expect more than 1,000 infected people in normal wards, after 929 on Tuesday (yesterday). However, it was not yet entirely clear what caused the increase in new infections.
Increase especially in children
“The available parameters of the reported number of cases show increasing rates in all age groups,” emphasized the experts from Vienna University of Technology, MedUni Vienna and Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG) in their weekly update. In particular, there are increases in the age group of five to 14 year olds. While the seven-day incidence increased from about 330 to 410 cases within a week, in the compulsory school age group there was an increase from about 300 to 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
However, the available wastewater data up to and including September 15 does not confirm this upward trend, it was explained. It is still unclear to what extent the increase in the number of cases can be attributed to a change in testing behavior, the end of the holidays or epidemiological reasons.
According to the forecast, the hospital occupancy figures will develop to the level of the end of August. On October 5th, 737 to 1,445 SARS-CoV-2 infected people are expected in the normal wards across Austria, with an average of 1,032 people affected. The intensive care occupancy could remain approximately stable. After 64 occupied beds on Tuesday, 51 to 87 (average 67) severe Covid patients are forecast in two weeks.
Source: Nachrichten
