Omikron will be the dominant variant in Austria – it will only take days, says simulation researcher Popper. “It’s right around the corner and it’s going to happen relatively quickly now.” In Vienna, Omikron has already bypassed the previous variant, Delta. More than half of the new infections in the federal capital are due to Omicron.
Hospitals as a big question mark
The big question remains whether the number of cases is rising or whether hospitals will once again have to deal with a large number of Covid patients. “That’s why the final decision was to remain vigilant now.”
As far as hospitals are concerned, the lockdown is still affecting there at the moment. “This week the numbers will go down there.”
Watch out for New Year’s Eve
Members of the new Gekko coordination team also warned of caution on Wednesday: They are defending the decision to lift the curfew to 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. They appeal to residents to spend New Year’s Eve in a small group and to test themselves beforehand (More on that below).
Katharina Reich, Director-General of Public Health, is also certain: “It is very likely that New Year’s Eve will be not only the start of the year, but also a marked turning point in the contagion curve.”
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