The 7-day incidence throughout Austria is now 655 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (as of Tuesday, 2 p.m.). In Upper Austria the incidence is 1,020.6. Salzburg is just behind with 944.7 – which corresponds to a slight decrease compared to the previous day. Due to the website problems of the local PCR test provider, this is likely to be a distortion that should be corrected in the coming days.
Lower Austria reached a value of 670.3 and Carinthia 660.7. In Tyrol the 7-day incidence was 585.6, in Vorarlberg 567.6 and in Styria 551.5. Burgenland performed best with a 7-day incidence of 492.2 and Vienna with 408.7. For comparison: on Tuesday a week ago, 5,398 new infections were recorded within 24 hours, the 7-day incidence was 403.9.
In all age groups, the 7-day incidence fell slightly in those who were fully vaccinated, while it rose rapidly in those who were not or not fully vaccinated.
All-time high for new infections on the weekend
Only on Saturday was 9,943 new infections reported within 24 hours, a new all-time high since the outbreak of the pandemic. The previous high of November 13, 2020 – at that time, 9,586 infections were recorded – was thus significantly exceeded. Although the number of new infections within 24 hours of the record highs on the weekend is currently not that high, it is to be feared – at least in the short term – a further increase.
More than 400 CoV patients in intensive treatment
Meanwhile, the number of intensive care patients with Covid 19 disease exceeded the 400 threshold on Tuesday. This is another central indication that the CoV situation in Austria is worsening.
Upper Austria – the pandemic is currently particularly bad in the federal state with the lowest vaccination rate – must now increase the number of hospital beds for CoV patients to normal wards from 500 to 600. In addition, in addition to the 2-G rule, stricter visitation requirements will come into force again in the hospitals.
CoV: Hospitals are sounding the alarm
On Tuesday, more than 400 CoV patients had to be cared for in intensive care units across Austria. The situation is particularly serious in Salzburg. In Upper Austria, meanwhile, there are long waiting times for CoV vaccinations, as the demand has increased.
In the last 24 hours, 26 patients were added to the domestic intensive care units nationwide. According to figures from the Ministry of Health and the Interior (as of Tuesday, 9.30 a.m.), there were 403 patients with a SARS-CoV-2 infection in the domestic intensive care units. The federal states reported these figures to the national crisis team.
According to ministry figures, a total of 2,152 people are currently receiving hospital treatment, 150 more than the previous day due to the coronavirus. The number of new infections reported daily also remains at a high level: According to the ministry figures, 7,712 new cases were reported within the last 24 hours.
Tightened measures in force since Monday
In view of the increasing numbers, new rules have been in effect nationwide since Monday to contain the coronavirus pandemic. Roughly summarized, wherever 3-G was previously necessary for admission, 2-G is now valid – access is only allowed for vaccinated and convalescent people. The 3-G rule still applies in the workplace.
The 2-G measures were announced at short notice on Friday in order to stop the steep increase in the number of infections, prevent the congestion of hospitals and increase the vaccination rate.
Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) wants to “significantly increase control pressure in the next few days” in order to enforce the 2-G rule that is now in force in many places. To this end, the staff for this will also be increased. In addition to 4,000 police officers on patrol duty, 800 other officers are to be involved in the implementation of the 2-G rule.
Infectiologist: measures too late
The infectiologist Richard Greil from the regional hospital LKH Salzburg criticized in the ZIB2 that the stricter measures come too late. Even the vaccination can only slow the wave back. He believes it will take massive contact reductions to break the wave and give hospitals some respite. He does not want to speak of a lockdown, but the measures would have to be very strict in order to be effective.
Infectiologist on the CoV situation in the hospitals
More than 400 CoV patients are currently being treated in intensive care units. According to the infectious disease specialist Richard Greil from the Salzburg University Hospital, the situation is precarious. He talks about the current situation in the hospitals as well as about the most recent and possible further measures.
Increasing vaccination numbers
Even before the introduction of the 2-G rule, there was a significant increase in vaccinations at the weekend. But not all regions were prepared for the higher demand. In Upper Austria and Tyrol, only one vaccination station was open on Sunday, in Salzburg and Vorarlberg they were all closed. On Monday, however, many federal states announced that they would reopen vaccination centers after they had been shut down in recent weeks due to insufficient customer interest.
The vaccination numbers were also high on Monday. 40,389 people were vaccinated – more than any Monday since the beginning of July. Of these, well over half (24,211) received a third vaccination. But also the 10,792 new first vaccinations are a comparatively high value for the traditionally rather low vaccination Monday.
64.6 percent with a valid vaccination certificate
Most of the vaccinations were once again in Vienna (12,412) and Lower Austria (8,813). But Upper Austria also carried out 5,232 vaccinations on Monday after just opening a vaccination center on Sunday.
When it comes to first vaccinations, the vaccination straggler Upper Austria ranks second with 2,099, behind Vienna (2,739) and ahead of Lower Austria (1,898). This is followed by Tyrol (1,365 first vaccinations), Styria (1,133), Salzburg (648), Carinthia (403), Burgenland (189) and Vorarlberg (51). 267 first vaccinations could not be assigned to any federal state, for example because the vaccinated person does not have a main residence in Austria.
In all of Austria, 64.6 percent of the population currently have a valid vaccination certificate – almost 49,000 more than in the previous week. Vaccination coverage is still highest in Burgenland at around 72 percent. This is followed by Lower Austria (67), Styria (65), Vienna (64), Tyrol (63), Vorarlberg (62), Carinthia and Salzburg (61) and Upper Austria with just under 60 percent.