Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) announced on Thursday after a conversation with experts that from the end of next week access to restaurants, body-friendly services (such as hairdressers) and gatherings of 25 people or more will only be given to those who have been vaccinated or have recovered. In addition, a vaccination offer for 5-12 year olds is being created.
After the round, Ludwig spoke with the experts of a “very serious situation”. One prognosis made him particularly concerned, he reported – namely that it does not seem to be ruled out that bed occupancy in Austria could soon climb to an all-time high. That is why Vienna will now take steps again and bring forward the fourth stage of the federal action plan. At the same time, with a view to tomorrow’s round with the federal government and the provincial governors, he urged them to do the same in Vienna.
Video: Current information on the CoV situation in Vienna
The medical director of the health network, Michael Binder, also identified the need for action, even if the increase in the number of cases in Vienna was comparatively “cautious”, as he reported. Binder blamed the more rapid tightening in Vienna over the past few weeks. Nevertheless, the occupancy of intensive care beds is currently only around ten cases below the previous year, he pointed out. “So quite a threatening development.”
Details of the new 2G regulation are still being worked out, it said. Here they also want to wait for the results of tomorrow’s summit with the federal government. However, Ludwig already outlined possible further “escalation levels”. For example, “2G Plus”, that is, compulsory testing for vaccinated and convalescent people, is possible if the situation continues to develop so dramatically. In any case, another lockdown should be prevented, emphasized the city chief.
Video: Michael Binder sees “threatening development”
The federal government was also asked to initiate an information campaign for the third stitch. An vaccination lottery like in Burgenland – and now also in Upper Austria – will not exist in Vienna, affirmed Ludwig. They continue to rely on low-threshold offers. Soon there will also be one for younger people. Just a few days after the measures announced today come into force, a vaccination line for children aged six and over is to be set up.
Ludwig referred to reports that four general practitioners in Vienna were already offering such a vaccination. “We hear there is a lot of demand.” In order to react to this, the city will also start an action for this age group. Here, too, the exact details are still being worked on, it was emphasized. In any case, pediatricians should also be available for advice at the vaccination center, promised Binder.
When asked by the APA, a spokesman for City Councilor for Health Peter Hacker (SPÖ) explained that the offer would be an off-label vaccination, as there are no approved vaccines for children of this age. One is now looking for pediatricians who are ready to carry out the immunizations in the planned facility.
In any case, the consent of the parents will be necessary. Also, unlike the vaccination for adults, there will probably be no slots without an appointment being booked in advance. Because the consultations on child vaccination will be more extensive and will probably take longer, it was emphasized. The location at which the Impfstrasse will be set up is still open.
The off-label vaccination cannot be used for proof of immunization, the spokesman explained. That is why the 2G rule announced today will only apply to people aged twelve and over. For children from the age of six, a corona test is still sufficient for a visit to the restaurant or the hairdresser.
Source From: Nachrichten
