There are many things I hoped that I’d never have to write about, esp. Covid-related testing requirements. But now I have to, as ‘Covid’ is baaaaack in town, I suppose, and it’s as stupid as one would believe it.
Last Week’s Events
Strangely, no-one really seemed to care as recently as some 7-10 days ago. Sure, the Austrian gov’t admitted to have ‘disposed of 11.3m doses’, but no-one really cared enough to get agitated (except me, I fear).
You know, it wasn’t for lack of the usual suspects among the known cast of Zero Covid villains, esp. notable shenanigans incl. Dorothee von Laer (Virology, U of Innsbruck), Ulrich Elling (Microbiology, Academy of Sciences), and Monika Redlberger-Fritz (Medical U Vienna).
Then the fearporn emerged once more, with the fine people smell-testing (I guess) wastewater coming out strongly, assisted as always by ye faithful Covid Hawks over at Der Standard (22 Nov. 2023, composed by the indomitable Magdalena Pötsch; here and in the following, emphases mine):
The wastewater data leaves no room for interpretation: Austria is currently heading towards one of the highest Covid waves ever, writes molecular biologist Ulrich Elling on the short message service X, formerly Twitter. It was foreseeable that the number of infections would rise again during the cold season. The wave has been building steadily since the summer. [what a surprising statement to make about, well, respiratory illnesses…] ‘But we haven't seen such a long phase of increase since Omikron’, says Elling to Der Standard.
In the past few days and weeks, the whole thing has picked up speed once again, with the curve rising steeply. Even experts are not quite sure why exactly. Many factors play a role in the incidence of infection: the weather, how many people have had the booster vaccination, and the other viruses that are circulating beyond the coronavirus, to name just a few. In addition, hardly any immunity was built up over the summer this year [of course not, it’s a seasonal respiratory illness…]—neither through the vaccination as in 2021 nor through a summer wave as in 2022. [you want to have it both ways, eh?] ‘The rapid increase in infections is certainly not related to a new variant that bypasses immune protection so much better that everyone is now suddenly infected’, Elling reassures [so, no ‘immunity buildup, no new variant, but then…the ‘old’ variants are better at sickening people?] The symptoms of a new infection are also likely to be milder, but to what extent remains to be seen: ‘An endemic is still not just a cold.’ [what a genius™]
Sigh, I suppose, but this was all ‘last week’s news’.
‘Covid Rates (?) Climb 40% in a Week’
We’re all gonna die now, for sure, eh?
Earlier today, tabloid Österreich came out with the following stunner:
More than 110,000 Austrians were off sick with colds in the previous week, over 29,000 of them with Covid-19. More than 400 were affected by influenza (‘real flu’) and over 84,000 people were unable to work due to flu-like infections, according to figures from ÖGK [the state-run insurance corporation] policymakers. This is in addition to sick leave from other health insurance companies. ‘The number of sick days is rising again’, explained ÖGK head physician Andreas Krauter on Monday.
Let me spell this out for you: that’s a lot of people for a country whose resident population is slightly less than 9m. Just how many?
‘Masks provide reliable protection [really? It’s late in 2023, just sayin’…] to prevent infection and further spread. People with risk factors in particular should take this into account. We recommend vaccinating them, but also everyone else, against Covid-19 and influenza [of course you do: get another booster, please]. Washing your hands is also important’, emphasised Andreas Krauter in an ÖGK press release. A total of 297,000 people with various illnesses or injuries were registered as ill with ÖGK in the previous week.
So, these 297,000 people on sick leave are about 10% of the total workforce. Let’s guess—or ask ‘the experts™’, perhaps—how much longer this can continue?
In recent weeks, around 1,500 people with respiratory diseases have been hospitalised at the same time, including around 700 with Covid-19.
Concerns about a new coronavirus variant
More and more experts are warning of a new variant: HV.1 attacks the bronchi worse than previous mutations. Even after the infection has ended, a bad cough can persist for weeks. Otherwise, the symptoms are similar to those of previous Omicron variants: sore throat, runny nose, cough, fatigue, headache, fever, chills and muscle aches.
To summarise: 10% of the workforce is ‘sick’, and ‘the experts™’ are out in force again.
‘Concentration of Sars-CoV-2 in wastewater in Austria higher than ever before’
As perDer Standard, ‘up to four per cent of the Austrian population is said to be Covid-positive according to analyses. The Vienna State Health Association [orig. Wiener Gesundheitsverbund, or WIGEV, the public umbrella corporation in the State of Vienna] implements new corona measures’.
You’ve gotta give it to these (morons) in Vienna—they won’t take any evidence well:
Even though Covid-19 has no longer been classified as communicable disease [and hence no-one must report having C.] since 1 July, testing is mandatory at all WIGEV centres for patients with symptoms, even if they are only mild. Areas with vulnerable patients in hospitals and nursing homes will be particularly protected, it was announced on Tuesday [28 Nov. 2023].
Those who test positive must be isolated or placed in cohorts and receive standardised treatment [no information what that means]. WIGEV employees are therefore adhering to protective measures such as wearing masks when in contact with people who have tested positive or are suspected of being infected.
Read that second paragraph again: employees are ‘adhering to protective measures when in contact with people [who] are suspected of being infected’.
Talk about the Biopolitics of Stupidity, I suppose. You read it here first. Sigh.
Inadequate immunisation coverage
Sufficient personal protective equipment is available, for example for WIGEV employees with mild symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection who are not on sick leave [shouldn’t I ‘suspect them of being infected’, these dastardly disease vectors are still at-work?] They could, for example, wear masks and protect their surroundings [isn’t PPE, you know, supposed to protect the wearer?] Frequent hand sanitising was also recommended [because those who are ‘suspected of being infected’ tend to stick their fingers into other’s respiratory tracts?] However, WIGEV also emphasised that there is currently no general obligation to wear masks or take Covid tests.
We note that this particular piece in Der Standard was originally published on 28 Nov. 2023 at 1:37 p.m.
‘Mandatory Tests’ are Back in Town—at 4:07 p.m.
The above-cited stupidity was actually replaced less than three (!) hours later by the following reporting (ahem):
Now it's on again—Corona Testing is Compulsory Again Here
The number of coronavirus cases is rising again. The facilities of the Vienna Health Association (WIGEV) are now introducing stricter measures.
Caption: ‘Faced with rising Covid cases, Vienna’s hospitals are protecting themselves [lolcatz] with new testing requirements (from the archives)’
No Mandatory Testing for Employees
Tests are only carried out for inpatient admissions; testing is not required in outpatient clinics. According to WiGev, the aim is to provide special protection for areas with vulnerable people. Anyone who tests positive is isolated, but still treated in a standardised manner. Employees then adhere to protective measures such as wearing an FFP2 mask when in contact.
Yeah, the take-off-your-mask-in-restaurants logic (ahem) is on again, because viruses don’t get to you when seated w/o masks. Excellent move. May I ask, for a friend, of course, WTF are you thinking?
Employees should not be required to take a test or wear a mask. ‘We assume that our employees are responsible enough to stay at home if they have symptoms’, emphasises a WiGev spokesperson.
Welcome to Covid-induced insanity, for the ‘true’ reason why testing or masking isn’t really mandatory is—because doing so would be illegal (as Covid is no longer classified as a communicable disease about which the authorities must be notified).
There’s yet another rub here: until June or July 2023, all that was required to stay home from work was to claim one ‘had it’. Now, employees must see a doctor to get a note stating one’s unfitness for work.
Hence, the inescapable consequence:
From Tuesday, 28 November, patients at Vienna General Hospital will also be tested before admission. However, the tests are not mandatory. If a patient refuses, this has no further consequences.
If a test is positive in this context, the patient in question will be placed in a separate area. Masks are not currently compulsory at Vienna General Hospital.
Bottom Lines
There’s but two things to mention here:
Greater morons have never governed us.
The one thing that’s (even) greater than the morons that govern us is—people who still follow non-mandatory measures that have no consequences.
Oh dear!! Don’t they wonder why, in a country where they were about as draconian as they could get about vaccination, they are now heading towards a huge wave (a wave of cold symptoms no doubt).
I wonder why people are so sick and sick so often? Maybe they haven’t had a chance to read the study by the Cleveland Clinic suggesting that the more jabs you get the sicker you are. But never mind, I know the answer, just nag people to get more boosters. That should sort it out nicely.
Oh dear!! Don’t they wonder why, in a country where they were about as draconian as they could get about vaccination, they are now heading towards a huge wave (a wave of cold symptoms no doubt).
I wonder why people are so sick and sick so often? Maybe they haven’t had a chance to read the study by the Cleveland Clinic suggesting that the more jabs you get the sicker you are. But never mind, I know the answer, just nag people to get more boosters. That should sort it out nicely.
PS: tsunami of stupidity and lies!