
Vienna has been experiencing a rise in Covid-19 cases, as indicated by wastewater monitoring data.
The increase, which had been anticipated for the autumn, has arrived earlier than expected.
Vaccinologist Ursula Wiedermann-Schmidt, from the Medical University of Vienna and the National Vaccination Committee, has advised residents to consider wearing masks and maintaining good hygiene practices.
Similar increases in coronavirus cases have also been reported in popular holiday destinations such as Italy, Spain and Greece.
In response to the uptick in infections, Vienna’s vaccination centres have already ordered nearly 7,800 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. Wiedermann-Schmidt emphasised the importance of vaccination for high-risk individuals, including the elderly, those with underlying health conditions, cardiovascular diseases, kidney ailments, and cancer patients.
The coronavirus vaccine is available at more than 200 general practitioners’ clinics across Vienna. Wiedermann-Schmidt predicts a significant rise in infections as people return from their holidays and the new school year begins.
According to the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK), the current wave of summer infections is not unusual. Although 52,400 insured individuals in Vienna were on sick leave last week, the numbers are reportedly declining. However, it remains unclear how many of these cases are due to coronavirus, as it is no longer a reportable illness. The latest vaccine remains effective, despite the emergence of a new variant.