VIENNA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus infection in Austria exceeded 7,000 on Friday with 58 deaths reported, according to local health authorities.

A total of 7,399 people have tested positive in the Alpine country as of Friday afternoon, an increase of around 15.7 percent in 24 hours. Among the confirmed cases, 800 patients are hospitalized, including 128 in intensive care, while 225 people have recovered, according to the Health Ministry.

Health Minister Rudolf Anschober expected Austria to reach the peak of coronavirus infections between mid-April and mid-May.

"The more successful we are, the lower the peak, but the longer it will take for all the infections to happen. I assume a time factor somewhere between mid-April and mid-May," said Anschober on Friday morning on the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) radio .

There would be a delay of 10 to 14 days in terms of the effectiveness of the measures including exit restrictions, said the minister, expecting a professional evaluation shortly before Easter.

"It is important that we do not end the measures one day at a time. If the infection rates go up again, everything would been in vain," he added.

The pharmaceutical industry has little hope of rapid therapy, according to a virtual press conference here in Vienna.

The effectiveness of medicines in relation to COVID-19 will be more clear in "half a year to a year," said Stefan Kahler, chief for clinical research within the Association of the Austrian Pharmaceutical Industry (Pharmig).

Even if "the time is pressing" regarding the dramatically developing pandemic, one should not forget that "only good, well-founded scientific knowledge" can really help, he said.

This also applies to vaccine development, emphasized Kahler, expecting suitable vaccines in about a year. Enditem

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