This is reported by the “press”. Against the background of the increasing corona infection dynamics (increasing number of infections and higher hospitalization rate), the State Covid Crisis Coordination (Gecko) has recommended wearing more FFP2 masks again – especially in public transport and indoors.
“The Gecko’s current recommendation is to consider introducing the FFP2 mask requirement in certain areas,” Rauch explained. “We will therefore monitor the situation for a few more days.” If you continue with the current development, “we’ll get to the point where we have to act,” said the minister. “The direction will certainly emerge in the next few days.” First, the mask requirement would be introduced in public transport and in food retail, then possibly in public interiors, Rauch explained.
Meanwhile, the Gecko task force also advises taking advantage of the corona test offer. In addition, the Gecko Commission, which met at the beginning of this week, once again emphasized the importance of the corona vaccination and the Covid 19 medication: “Both make a significant contribution to protection against serious illnesses.”
93 percent of the infection process in Austria is dominated by the omicron subvariant BA.5 (according to AGES/IMBA surveillance and wastewater sequencing). The virus variants BA.4 and BA.2 are also found in wastewater. The sub-variant BA.2.75 can also be detected in several sewage treatment plants in Austria, the task force informed. In the individual case analyzes by AGES/IMBA, BA.2.75 accounted for 1.16 percent of the individual cases evaluated. Other omicron subvariants occur sporadically.
“In the past few weeks, the development and description of new coronavirus variants has been very dynamic,” says virologist and Gecko member Andreas Bergthaler. Based on the globally distributed omicron variants – especially BA.2 and BA.5 – several subvariants have developed, some of which show considerable regional growth advantages. “It is particularly striking that the same mutations repeatedly arose independently in different genetic backgrounds. This indicates strong selection pressure and/or a significantly increased fitness of these mutations.”
A new Covid-19 vaccine adapted to the Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 is available in Austria. This is rated as particularly effective.
Source: Nachrichten
