More than 290,000 people in Austria reported sick with flu-like infections, influenza or Covid-19 in the previous week. This is shown by current figures from the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK). Schools are already sounding the alarm in view of the many absences among teaching staff.
AUSTRIA. The ÖGK alone received 290,927 reports of incapacity for work last week, of which 80,891 related to flu-like infections, 485 to influenza (“real flu”) and 13,501 to Covid-19. In the previous week, 273,727 insured people, around 17,000 fewer, were reported as unable to work with one of the three illnesses. “We are currently experiencing an increasing number of sick leaves. Please remember to take advantage of the possibilities of vaccinations. The new influenza vaccine is already available free of charge to everyone living in Austria, and the Covid vaccination is also free. Vaccination forms this “The best protection against infection and the risk of spreading the disease in your personal environment. Also think about the options for protection through hand disinfection and wearing masks in large gatherings of people,” appeals ÖGK chief physician Andreas Krauter in view of the increasing numbers.
Wastewater monitoring shows Covid increase
As the health insurance company emphasizes, the figures only concern ÖGK-insured employees and those receiving unemployment benefits. The insurance provider also points out that Corona has no longer been considered a reportable disease since July 2023, which means that fewer tests are being carried out. The actual infection process with SARS-CoV-2 is visible via wastewater monitoring commissioned by the Ministry of Health.
Schools under pressure because of sick leave
Local schools already sounded the alarm last week. The high level of sick leave is currently causing “huge problems” for schools, emphasized the top teachers union Paul Kimberger (FCG). “We already have significant outages, and we are going over the limit because we have no reserves at all.”
Nevertheless, everything is being done in schools to ensure that teaching is of a high quality, emphasized the chairman of the Association of Teachers in the GÖD in an interview with the APA. “It is certainly doubtful whether this will really work everywhere as we imagine with the beginning of the Corona and flu season.”
Free vaccinations throughout Austria
Both the corona and influenza vaccinations are free throughout Austria. They are available to the entire population free of charge from participating doctors, in companies, in old people’s and nursing homes and public vaccination centers – further information can be found at impfen.gv.at.
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