The big Omikron summit will take place in the Chancellery on Wednesday. As it became known the evening before, the governors take part virtually.
Corona bang a few hours before the all-important Omikron meeting in the Chancellery. As “Today” found out, the country chiefs who had already planned their trip to Vienna are taking part via video conference. This was never planned otherwise, says the Chancellery, however. Johanna Mikl-Leitner (VP) from Lower Austria could not have come anyway. She is the contact person because her daughter is currently infected.
The GECKO standard answer
At 11 a.m., Nehammer, Mückstein and Kogler are available to media representatives to pan the camera – after all, the newly created GECKO team is on the scene. Like the government, it will be there physically. Meanwhile, it is slowly becoming clear why Chancellor Karl Nehammer was in such a hurry on Friday to launch the now 16th Corona committee (it has no room for maneuver). Whenever the government does not want to give an answer to questions – about a new lockdown or tightening of entry – it now refers to GECKO. “I don’t want to anticipate GECKO”, Health Minister Mückstein said repeatedly in a press conference on Tuesday.
“Even vaccinated people can become infected”
And otherwise? You know that you don’t know very much about Omikron, Mückstein admitted. For example, whether it causes more severe disease processes. Will there be an entry ban for tourists from the UK? “It is one possibility that we are discussing,” said Mückstein. And, yes, GECKO was entrusted with the subject. Whatever the case: “We will not be able to stop Omikron,” emphasized the Green Minister. At least a finding. “Even vaccinated and convalescent people can become infected with Omikron”, stated the doctor – surprisingly without referring to GECKO in this case. “We are preparing for a high number of cases in January,” did he then let the population know? As? You will have guessed it – GECKO …
Lockdown coming again?
Also in the Chancellery they showed themselves to be foggy and did not want to go into the meeting. Even the government participants are treated as an average state secret. Behind the scenes, insiders expect – as reported by “Heute” – that Austria is also preparing for new lockdowns in 2022. “Today”According to information, additional emergency beds in the Omikron wave should also be discussed. According to the Corona Commission, it should appear in “a form previously unknown in terms of strength and temporal dynamics”.
If GECKO gives the green light, a press conference is planned for 1.30 p.m. The results of the deliberations are to be announced here. If there are any.
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