Less sick people in Styria: What is behind the decline?

Less sick people in Styria: What is behind the decline?

In the first calendar week of 2025 there was a remarkable decline in the sickness in Styria. According to the current information from ORF Styria, 25,454 people were on sick leave, which is a drastic decline compared to 33,915 in the previous year. The figures from all over Austria also show a similar trend: instead of being ill instead of 234,760 people, only 175,417 were registered. The falling Corona cases that went back to only 219 this week from 2,689 in the previous year are particularly striking. But despite these positive statistics, Eva Winter, the head of the Graz health department, warns of deceptive optimism. "This is ... the difference between sick and seriously ill," she clarifies and adds that the pharmacies are affected by mild illnesses.

The demand in the pharmacies remains high. Daniela Berndl from the pharmacy to Chiron in Raaba-Grambach reports that many customers come to her with cough, runny nose and body aches. Gerhard Kobinger from the St. Franziskus pharmacy in Graz notices an increase in illness with the beginning of school and emphasizes that children in particular are bullets of the disease spread. To combat flu infections, he advises to flu shot: "Better treat cleverly than dig around yourself," he warns, since untreated infections can cause serious health damage.

emergency service pharmacies as a lifeline