coronavirus<\/strong> under control.<\/p>\nThe move, which took effect at midnight, prohibits people 12 years old and older who haven\u2019t been vaccinated or recently recovered from leaving their homes except for basic activities such as working, grocery shopping, going for a walk \u2014 or getting vaccinated.<\/p>\n
The lockdown<\/strong> is initially being imposed until Nov. 24 in the Alpine country of 8.9 million. It doesn\u2019t apply to children under 12 because they cannot yet officially get vaccinated \u2014 though the capital, Vienna, on Monday opened up vaccinations for under-12s as part of a pilot, and reported high demand.<\/p>\nOfficials have said that police patrols will be stepped up and unvaccinated people can be fined up to 1,450 euros ($1,660) if they violate the lockdown. \u201cWe really didn’t take this step lightly and I don’t think it should be talked down,\u201d Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg told Oe1 radio. \u201cThis a dramatic step \u2014 about 2 million people in this country are affected … what we are trying is precisely to reduce contact between the unvaccinated and vaccinated to a minimum, and also contact between the unvaccinated.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cMy aim is very clearly to get the unvaccinated to get themselves vaccinated and not to lock down the vaccinated,” Schallenberg added. \u201cIn the long term, the way out of this vicious circle we are in \u2014 and it is a vicious circle, we are stumbling from wave to lockdown, and that can’t carry on ad infinitum \u2014 is only vaccination.\u201d About 65% of the population is fully vaccinated, a rate that Schallenberg has described as \u201cshamefully low.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Austria lockdown for unvaccinated to start Monday in EU first<\/h2>\n
Austria<\/strong> will begin a lockdown<\/strong> for people not vaccinated<\/strong> against COVID-19, a first in the EU<\/strong> as the Alpine member fights a record surge in cases, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg<\/strong> said on Sunday.<\/p>\n\nAbout 65 percent of Austria’s almost nine million people are vaccinated, below the EU average of 67 percent, while daily increases in infections have hit records this week.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Other European governments<\/strong> are also eyeing unpopular COVID<\/strong> curbs, with the Netherlands<\/strong> opting for Western Europe’s first partial lockdown of the winter.<\/p>\nWhat Austria’s lockdown means ?<\/h3>\n
Austria’s lockdown<\/strong> means people over 12 who are not vaccinated<\/strong> or cannot show that they have recently recovered from COVID will not be allowed to leave the house except for reasons such as buying essential supplies, exercise or seeking medical care.<\/p>\n\n“The situation is serious… We don’t take this step with a light heart but unfortunately it is necessary,” Schallenberg told reporters in a televised press conference.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
The lockdowns<\/strong> are to be enforced with random spot checks for the next 10 days with police patrols being stepped up. It will then be reviewed, according to the government.<\/p>\nThose who break the rules risk a 500-euro ($570) fine; those who refuse to show proof that they are vaccinated or have recently recovered can be fined three times as much.<\/p>\n
\nThe main committee of parliament approved the lockdown late on Sunday.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
In his news conference, Schallenberg called again on those who have not yet been vaccinated to get jabbed.<\/p>\n
‘Fight back now’<\/p>\n
Hundreds gathered outside the chancellory for his announcement in a noisy protest, waving banners that read “No to mandatory vaccination” and “Our body, our freedom to decide”.<\/p>\n
“I’m here to set a sign. We must fight back now… We want to work, we want to help people, but we don’t want to vaccinate ourselves because this is simply our decision,” Sarah Hein, an unvaccinated 30-year-old hospital worker, told AFP.<\/p>\n
The government on Friday announced vaccinations would become mandatory for health workers.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, the UK, which has one of the highest Covid infection rates, has yet to reintroduce restrictions, despite health leaders calling for rules like mandatory face coverings in crowded and enclosed spaces to be brought back to avoid a winter crisis.<\/p>\n
The measures introduced in Austria on Monday, which come amid growing pressure on the nation’s hospitals, will initially last for 10 days.<\/p>\n
\nChildren under the age of 12 and people who have recently recovered from the virus will be exempt.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Over the weekend, hundreds of people protested outside the chancellery in the capital, Vienna, waving banners that read: “Our bodies, our freedom to decide.”<\/p>\n
One female protester said she was demonstrating “to fight for my rights”. “It is totally discriminatory what is happening here,” she said.<\/p>\n
But Prof Eva Schernhammer, of the Medical University of Vienna, said the measures were needed, warning that hospital intensive care units were filling up. “It’s already projected that within two weeks we’ll have reached the limit,” she said.<\/p>\n
Unvaccinated people were already barred from visiting restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas, but will now be expected to stay at home.<\/p>\n
\n“In reality we have told one third of the population: you will not leave your [home] apart from for certain reasons,” Mr Schallenberg said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
“That is a massive reduction in contacts between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated.”<\/p>\n\n\n
Austria announces COVID-19 lockdown for unvaccinated only<\/h2>\n\n\n\n