Corona
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Central Europe
Record number of antisemitic attacks in Austria in 2022
In 2022, the complete number of antisemitic incidents was lower than in the year before. But concerning physical attacks, it was a record year. That is clear from the anti-Semitism report for 2022 that was presented by the Jewish community on Monday. The anti-Semitism reporting office operated by the IKG…
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Western Europe
Unvaccinated caregiver in France allowed to return to work
French healthcare workers who did not get a full Covid vaccination will soon be allowed to return to their jobs again. “However, they won't be received with flowers everywhere.” The French Minister of Health announced earlier this week that unvaccinated healthcare workers are welcome at their work again. He said…
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Western Europe
Dutch religiousness did not decline during Covid lockdowns
There are no signals that the Covid pandemic has led to a decline in the religious involvement of the Dutch population. That is shown by new statistics from the Dutch Centraal Bureau Statistiek (Central Office of Statistics) on Friday. In general, people tend to become less religious, but that “decline…
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Christian Life
Working in a hospital during Covid: at the limit of our abilities
As a senior physician in the intensive care unit of Berlin's Charité hospital, Daniel Zickler has personally experienced every Covid wave. A conversation about faith in times of crisis, hope in the face of death, and love for one's neighbour. ***PRO: Documentary maker Carl Gierstorfer accompanied you and your colleagues…
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Central Europe
Swiss congregations damaged by Covid pandemic
Swiss churches suffer the consequences of the Covid pandemic. The two years of lockdowns, vaccination passports and other restrictions have increased tensions. Especially church members bicker more than before. Almost half of the churches that belong to the network of the Swiss Evangelical Alliance (SEA) are dealing with tensions, a…
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Western Europe
French Scientific Counsil “reserved” about reintegrating non-vaccinated caregivers
The French Scientific Counsil says it is “reserved” about reintegrating caregivers who have not been vaccinated against Covid. According to the government advisors, medical staff must remain exemplary while the seventh Covid wave remains very present. In its most recent opinion, published on Wednesday, July 20th, the Council stressed that…
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Central Europe
Austria ends mandatory vaccination
Austria ended its vaccine mandate for the corona virus four months after becoming the first EU country to make the injections mandatory. The controversial law was introduced in February but never enforced. In March, the legislation was suspended because its “encroachment of fundamental rights” could no longer be justified by…
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Central Europe
German Constitutional Court rejects objections to compulsory vaccination
The Federal Constitutional Court in Germany has rejected all objections to compulsory vaccination for health care personnel. The Court considers that the obligation to be vaccinated against Covid-19 does not violate the constitution. In a press release of the Court, the judges state that although compulsory vaccination infringes on employees'…
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Southern Europe
Italian convent might close due to vaccination refusal
An Italian monastery in Perugia might be shut down soon. According to the abbess, this is because the five nuns did not want to be vaccinated against Covid-19. After an Apostolic Visit, an inspection, the Mother Superior was informed that her convent, located in central Italy, would be closed. Since…
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Central Europe
German Christian Democrat deputy: Compulsory vaccination is dead
Whether it is because of the war in Ukraine or the seemingly less severe Omicron coronavirus, the discussion about compulsory vaccination seems to extinguish. It was a peculiar debate in the German Bundestag on Thursday. Four of the six members of the Bundestag Presidium, although double vaccinated and boosted, were…