Austria imposes unprecedented COVID-19 lockdown on unvaccinated residents amid spike in cases
(BERLIN) – Austria took what its leader called an “impressive” step on Monday of implementing a nationwide embargo on unvaccinated people who have not recently had COVID. -19, perhaps the most drastic of a series of measures European governments are taking to bring a major regional resurgence of the virus under control.
The move, which goes into effect at midnight, prohibits people 12 years of age and older who have not been vaccinated or have recently recovered from the illness from leaving their homes except for basic activities such as going to work, shopping, school or college. study or go for a walk – or go for a vaccinated walk.
The initial lockdown is in place until November 24 in the Alpine nation of 8.9 million people. It does not apply to children under 12 because they cannot yet be officially vaccinated – although the capital Vienna, on Monday, opened its doors to vaccinations for children under 12 as part of a pilot and needs-report project. high demand.
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Officials say police will step up patrols and checks and those who are not vaccinated could be fined up to 1,450 euros ($1,660) for breaking the ban.
Prime Minister Alexander Schallenberg told Oe1 radio: “We really didn’t take this step lightly and I don’t think it should be downplayed. “This is an impressive step forward – about 2 million people in this country are affected. … What we are trying to do is minimize contact between the unvaccinated and the vaccinated, and also the contact between the unvaccinated.”
Schallenberg added: “My aim is very clear to make it possible for unvaccinated people to immunize themselves, not lock the vaccinated. “In the long run, the way out of this vicious circle that we’re in – and it’s a vicious circle, we’re stumbling from wave to wave and that can’t continue with advertising – just vaccinations.”
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About 65% of Austria’s population is fully vaccinated, a rate that Schallenberg describes as “disgustingly low”. All students in schools, vaccinated or not, are required to take three COVID-19 tests per week, at least one of which is a PCR test.
The leader of the far-right opposition Liberal Party vowed to fight the new restrictions with “all parliamentary and legal means at our disposal”. Herbert Kickl said that “there are practically two million people being jailed for doing nothing wrong.”
On Monday, Kickl announced on Facebook that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and must self-isolate for 14 days, so he will not be able to attend a rally in Vienna. scheduled for Saturday.
Authorities are concerned about rising infections and increasing pressure on hospitals. Austria on Monday recorded 894.3 new cases per 100,000 residents in the previous seven days. That’s far worse than neighboring Germany, which has set its own pandemic record, and had 303 new cases per 100,000 residents in seven days.
Berlin on Monday became the latest of German states to restrict access to restaurants, cinemas, museums and concerts for people who have been vaccinated or recently recovered – banning those other unvaccinated people, including those who have tested negative. Persons under the age of 18 are exempt.
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On Thursday, the German Parliament will vote on a new legal framework for coronavirus restrictions put forward by parties expected to form the country’s next coalition government. Those plans are said to be being beefed up to allow for tougher contact restrictions than originally planned.
Separately, one of three German parties hoping to take office next month said it would consider introducing vaccine authorization in some areas, a step officials have so far balked at.
“We will need mandatory vaccinations… in nursing homes, in day care centers, etc,” said Greens parliamentary group leader Katrin Goering-Eckardt.
Germany has struggled to give new impetus to its vaccination campaign, with just over two-thirds of its population fully vaccinated and trying to ramp up booster shots.
Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel made a new call on Saturday for retainers to get vaccinated. “Think about that again,” she said. The country’s Centers for Disease Control last week urged people to cancel or avoid large events.
In the west of Germany, the Netherlands on Saturday night implemented a partial lockdown that will last for at least three weeks, forcing bars and restaurants to close at 8pm In the city of Leeuwarden, northern Ha Lan, hundreds of young people gathered in a central square to protest the restrictions, setting off fireworks and holding flares, before riot police arrived to push the protesters out.
The Austrian government’s next move may be to tighten the screws.
Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein told broadcaster ORF he wanted to discuss the coronavirus restrictions further on Wednesday, and said one proposal was that night-time restrictions would also apply to people who have been exposed. vaccination.
But Schallenberg seems more cautious.
“Of course I do not rule out honing these measures,” he said, but he indicated that he did not expect restrictions on bars and nightclubs for now.
