Coronavirus – No more infected after Omikron cases in Tirol

The first case in Tyrol is a person who tested positive for coronavirus after a trip to South Africa and is currently asymptomatic. Two people from this person’s family environment in the province of Tyrolean-Chois also tested positive for the coronavirus. In an interview with ORF Tirol Monday evening, Innsbruck virologist Dorothee von Laer assumed that “more than 95 percent” would be an Omikron. Detailed sequencing is still in progress, report the case of Tyrol.

Tirol Governor Gunther Blatter (ÖVP) on Tuesday spoke at a press conference against “causing panic” regarding the alternative Amicron. He emphasized that the mutant was taken “seriously,” but added, “But don’t panic either.” The state said all other test results from returning travelers are negative. Blatter said the isolation of the three affected people in the Choaz region has gone well. Speak dish of “appropriate measures”. As so often before, Tyrolean Governor and Health Adviser Annette Lega (ÖVP) has stressed the importance of vaccinations. “That’s the only thing that helps,” Blatter said.

The crisis team said that in Upper Austria, where there are currently two suspected cases of Omicron, there are currently nine contact people in quarantine. Whether there are stricter requirements for racial segregation than usual – for example, regarding the classification of vaccinated people as K2 – is currently still a case-by-case decision. So far, she said, from Upper Austria, there is no central requirement that has actually been communicated to the federal government.

The two suspected cases known to date in Upper Austria are one who traveled home from South Africa and one who returned from Namibia. Ages must first clarify whether or not the new variant is really available, she said. This will take seven to ten days.

A laboratory in Salzburg also reported the first suspected case of Omicron to health authorities. As reported by the state, the positive sample comes from Vienna who returned by plane from South Africa on Friday. The man appears to have taken a PCR test at his second home on Test Street. Therefore the sample was evaluated in Salzburg and showed anomalies.

In Vorarlberg, it was still uncertain on Tuesday whether a South African returnee with coronavirus had contracted the Omikron variant of the coronavirus. The result of sequencing the sample by ages in Vienna was not yet available. Five more people who remained in South Africa are still waiting for a PCR test, health consultant Martina Rocher (ÖVP) reported on Tuesday.

In Vorarlberg, 15 passengers had returned by Tuesday, and all had been tested and immediately separated. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test has been among 15 positive tests so far – this is the sample now being analyzed further in Vienna. Nine tests were negative, and in five cases the PCR test result must be awaited.

No cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omikron variant have been reported in any of the other federal states. Vienna City Health Adviser Peter Hacker (SPÖ) suspected on Monday that the boom was likely to reach Vienna as well. However, no cases had been reported from the federal capital by Tuesday. The city council emphasized the importance of vaccination.

In order to control the mutation, laboratory provider Lifebrain, which is evaluating PCR tests for the “Alles gurglt” program, has expanded its capabilities in Vienna, the company said. This is being done in light of dramatically increasing test volumes across Germany and “serious difficulties” in many federal states in being able to ensure that a robust, reliable, low-threshold test is offered with results within 24 hours, she said. According to its own information, Lifebrain is now able to check positive test results for possible Omicron infection. The company conducts 1,000 sequencing tests per week to detect mutations.

Also in Lower Austria there was no justified suspicion regarding the Omikron variant. In addition, according to state health advisor Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig (SPÖ), the Novogenia contractual laboratory has been tasked to align the analysis process accordingly in order to be able to identify this variant in pre-screening. “In the future, each confirmed PCR sample will undergo further testing using a special primer. This detects very specific genome changes that provide an indication that a mutation may be present. If the mutation screening in the sample is positive, this sample brought to AGES in Vienna will be used for the purpose of genome sequencing. full ”, explained the regional council member.

Therefore, the State of Styria, which also did not show the status of the Omikron variant, has carried out a comprehensive mutational analysis, which is examined by the responsible laboratories. The goal is to verify all positive PCR tests for the Omikron variant. “With the help of this method, the spread can be traced in the best possible way. If the analysis shows a positive case, it will be redirected for detailed sequencing,” the broadcast said.

There was also a clear vaccination recommendation in Styria: “Omikron should not prevent people from being vaccinated against Covid-19 and continue to comply with all recommended preventive measures, wearing a mask, maintaining distance and hand hygiene,” emphasized Herwig Lindner, Infectious Diseases and President of the Styria Association. medical. His colleague Robert Krause of the Medical University of Graz said: “Omikron is a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 that has been classified by the World Health Organization as a ‘variable of concern’.” Next key steps in managing the new SARS-CoV-2 variant.”

The omicron variant was first discovered in South Africa. The World Health Organization classifies them as “extremely concerning”. Furthermore, travelers returning from South African countries, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini in the past 14 days were asked to take a PCR test as a precaution.