Coronavirus in Austria: Update

The number of current suspected cases is official information from the Austrian health authorities (Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection and Federal Ministry of the Interior).

These follow uniform criteria and are updated daily around noon (local time). (Please return for updated numbers.)

COVID-19 Diseases in Austria, as of Monday, July 20, 2020, 9.00 p.m.:

Confirmed cases in Austria: 19,670 cases. (This marks an increase of 3006 confirmed cases compared to the previous update.)

Confirmed deaths in Austria: 711 deaths. (This marks an increase of 42 deaths compared to the previous update.)

Confirmed cases in Austria by federal states (in brackets: total number, + difference to previous update): 

Confirmed deaths in Austria sorted by federal states (in brackets: total number, + difference to previous update): 

Tests carried out so far in Austria: 798,436

According to the official figures, a total of 17,659 COVID-19 patients have recovered in Austria.

COVID-19 Diseases in in the 32 European Countries (EU/EEA, United Kingdom and Switzerland)

Confirmed cases in Europe: 1,623,533 cases. (This marks an increase of 23,533 confirmed cases compared to the previous update. In brackets: total number):

United Kingdom (294,792), Spain (260,255), Italy (244,434), Germany (201,823), France (174,674), Sweden (77,281), Belgium (63,893), Netherlands (51,670), Portugal (48,636), Poland (40,104), Romania (37,458), Ireland (25,760), Austria (19,571), Czechia (13,945), Denmark (13,173), Norway (9,015), Bulgaria (8,733), Finland (7,338), Luxembourg (5,483), Croatia (4,354), Hungary (4,333), Greece (4,007), Estonia (2,021), Slovakia (1,979), Slovenia (1,946), Lithuania (1,932), Iceland (1,930), Latvia (1,192), Cyprus (1,038), Malta (676) and Liechtenstein (87).

Confirmed deaths in Europe: 180,586 deaths. (This marks an increase of 586 deaths compared to the previous update. In brackets: total number):

United Kingdom (45,300), Italy (35,045), France (30,152), Spain (28,420), Belgium (9,800), Germany (9,086), Netherlands (6,129), Sweden (5,619), Romania (2,026), Ireland (1,753), Portugal (1,689), Poland (1,624), Austria (711), Denmark (611), Hungary (596), Czechia (359), Finland (328), Bulgaria (300), Norway (255), Greece (194), Croatia (120), Luxembourg (111), Slovenia (111), Lithuania (80), Estonia (69), Latvia (31), Slovakia (28), Cyprus (19), Iceland (10), Malta (9) and Liechtenstein (1).

COVID-19 Diseases Worldwide

However a total of 14,745,415 confirmed cases have been reported worldwide.

Of these, 1,865,504 diseases are attributable to the USA and 83,682 to Mainland China.

The number of deaths worldwide is currently 610,797.

Of these, 143,536 diseases are attributable to the USA and 4,634 to Mainland China.

Worldwide, 8,593,826 people have already recovered from coronavirus (COVID-19).

Coronavirus Cases - Following deaths have so far been reported by following countries:
(Sorted by total deaths)

Important Note on the Austria Data:

Vindobona.org obtains the current information on the total number of infected, recovered and deceased persons as well as the figures for the status of these cases in the provinces from the official list of the Ministry of Health (Ministry of Social Affairs - BMSGPK Bundesministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit, Pflege und Konsumentenschutz).

With regard to the accuracy and timeliness of the figures and data of the Ministry of Health related to Austria, the following should be noted.

If a suspicious case is reported by a health authority, it will be tested immediately for the presence of coronavirus infection.

In the course of the day, new suspected cases as well as test results may cause the number of suspected cases to fluctuate several times.

For this reason, and to avoid misunderstandings, the number of tests performed to date and the number of laboratory-confirmed infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 will also be communicated on the Vindobona.org website as soon as the Ministry of Health has confirmed the results.

Only cases that have been reported to the Ministry of Health are listed here. Since this is a very dynamic situation, there may be discrepancies between the information provided by the Ministry of Health, other agencies (e.g., the states) and Vindobona.org.

The Ministry updates these statistics twice a day, usually between 8.00 and 9.00 (with a time stamp of 8.00) and between 15.00 and 16.00 (with a time stamp of 15.00).

Vindobona.org follows this schedule as closely as possible.

Austrian government wants to increase test capacity strongly

As of March 24, 2020, the government has announced a major increase in coronavirus testing capacity. "The most important goal is: testing, testing, testing," said Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in a press conference with Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler, Interior Minister Karl Nehammer and Health Minister Rudolf Anschober.

Coronavirus tests also in Salzburg

Coronavirus testing is also possible in Salzburg. According to the Salzburg State Clinics (SALK), patients can also be tested for coronavirus infections at the University Hospital. Previously, the samples had to be sent to the Centre for Virology at the Medical University of Vienna.

Health Minister Anschober continues emphasizing that there is no reason for excitement at the moment, but that it needs the greatest attention and international coordination. This is well ensured by the Austrian health authorities in all areas.

Below you will also find frequently asked questions and answers on the novel coronavirus.

What is a coronavirus?

Coronaviruses (CoV) form a large family of viruses that can cause mild colds to severe pneumonia in humans. Other coronaviruses can cause a variety of infectious diseases in animals. Coronaviruses are transmitted between animals and humans.

Coronaviruses include the MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which first appeared in humans in 2012, and the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV), first detected in 2003.

In 2020, a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was identified in China that has never been detected in humans before.

How dangerous is this novel coronavirus?

It is not yet possible to say exactly how dangerous the pathogen is. At the moment, the new coronavirus appears to be much less dangerous than MERS (up to 30 percent mortality) and SARS (approx. 10 percent mortality). The new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is currently expected to have a mortality rate of up to three percent. Similar to the seasonal influenza virus (mortality below 1 percent), it mainly affects elderly people and immunocompromised persons.

How contagious is this novel coronavirus?

According to information available to date, there is a possibility of human-to-human transmission. Nevertheless, the risk of human-to-human transmission appears to be significantly lower than for seasonal flu.

What is the manifestation of the disease?

Infections of humans with common coronaviruses are usually mild and asymptomatic. Common signs of infection with the novel coronavirus include fever, cough, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. There are also mild forms (symptoms of a cold) and infections without symptoms.

It is currently believed that the course of the disease is less severe in the novel coronavirus than in SARS and MERS.

How is the disease treated?

There is no vaccine. Treatment is symptomatic, i.e. by alleviating the symptoms of the disease, such as antipyretics.

How can one protect oneself against coronaviruses?

As with seasonal influenza, the following measures are recommended:

• Wash your hands several times a day with soap and water
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue (not with your hands) if you cough or sneeze
• Avoid direct contact with sick people

Can masks (disposable face masks) protect?

Disposable face masks are not an effective protection against viruses or bacteria that are transmitted in the air. But they can help reduce the risk of the virus spreading by "splashing" from sneezing or coughing.

Is there a travel warning for China?

There is a high security risk (security level 3) in the Chinese province of Hubei due to the spread of the coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The Foreign Ministry advises against unnecessary travel. Further information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Is there a risk from Chinese tourists and travellers from China?

As with all infectious diseases, long-distance travel poses a certain risk for the worldwide spread of pathogens. However, the WHO does not currently recommend any travel or trade restrictions.

There are no direct flights between Austria and the primarily affected region in China.

The Chinese authorities report that travel connections to and from Wuhan (airport, railway stations, bus stations) have been suspended at present in order to further contain the spread of the disease, as most cases are still recorded in Wuhan or have a concrete travel connection to Wuhan. Residents of Wuhan are therefore only allowed to leave the central Chinese city if special reasons are given.

What happens if a sick person lands in Austria by plane?

If suspicious symptoms are registered in a passenger on board a landing aircraft, the ground staff is informed and special preparations are made.

What happens if a suspicious or sick person is detected in Austria?

If a suspicious case occurs, special safety criteria are applied, which are set by the Ministry of Health: For example, a sick person is isolated, contact persons who do not show any symptoms are informed and receive medical care for two weeks (regular temperature measurement). Tests are only carried out if these contacts show symptoms of a disease. All measures are aimed at ensuring that as few people as possible in Austria are infected by the pathogen.

Can the coronavirus be transmitted by trade goods from China?

There are no indications that trade goods pose a risk. The cases diagnosed so far indicate close contact with diseased persons as a source of infection. The primary source of the outbreak is assumed to be an animal or animal food on a fish market in Wuhan.

I will travel to China soon. What precautions should I take?

Based on the information currently available, the World Health Organization has not recommended any restrictions on travel or trade. You should check the latest travel advice before you leave.

Travellers to China should note the following during their stay:

Avoid contact with sick people Avoid contact with animals (alive or dead) Markets involving live animals or animal products should be avoided Wash your hands regularly with soap and water Where can travellers coming from China go to find out if they are infected?

If you suspect that you have been infected with the corona virus and are showing symptoms such as fever, contact your family doctor by phone or call the Health Advisory Service on 1450. Never go directly to the doctor to prevent possible infection of others.

Can I get tested for coronavirus? Where (family doctor?), how long does it take to get a result?

The doctor will decide whether you are indeed a suspected case and, if so, arrange for the test to be carried out. The result will be available within a few hours.

Laboratory Diagnostics in Austria?

Virus nucleic acid detection is possible after calling the Centre for Virology at the Medical University of Vienna (Zentrum für Virologie an der Medizinischen Universität Wien).

Suitable sample material for PCR-diagnostics are

Bronchoalveolar lavages
Tracheal secretion
Sputum (= sputum)
Throat rinse water
Swabs (e.g. throat, nasal cavity)

How are hospitals prepared?

With regard to hospital hygiene measures in the event of suspected and confirmed cases of illness, the procedure is currently analogous to SARS and MERS and is to be carried out according to the specifications of the local hospital hygiene team.

In general, only the isolation of patients is recommended, as well as the wearing of protective clothing for the staff (gown, mask, goggles).

Coronavirus Hotline of the "AGES -Österreichische Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit" in Austria

Phone: 0800 555 621
Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00

Link for further information:

Check the WHO Dashboard for more information on the Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.