Austria orders lockdown for those not vaccinated against Covid
ANCHOR
Published: 04:11 PM,Nov 14,2021 | EDITED : 08:11 PM,Nov 14,2021
A demonstrator during an anti-vaccination protest at the Ballhausplatz in Vienna. - AFP
VIENNA: Austria is placing millions of people not fully vaccinated against the coronavirus in lockdown as of Monday to deal with a surge in infections to record levels, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said on Sunday.
Europe has become the epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic again, prompting some governments to consider re-imposing unpopular lockdowns.
Roughly 65 per cent of Austria's population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, which is one of the lowest rates in western Europe. Many Austrians are sceptical about vaccines, a view encouraged by the far-right Freedom Party, the third biggest in parliament.
While the Netherlands is dealing with its surge in infections by imposing a partial lockdown that applies to all, Austria's conservative-led government says it wants to avoid imposing further restrictions on those who are fully vaccinated.
'We must raise the vaccination rate. It is shamefully low,' Schallenberg told a news conference announcing the new measure after a video call with the governors of Austria's nine provinces.
Those aged 12 and under will be exempt from the lockdown, under which the unvaccinated can only leave their homes for a limited number of reasons like going to work or shopping for essentials, Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein told the news conference, adding that it would initially last 10 days.
Many officials, including within Schallenberg's conservative party and the police, have expressed doubts such a lockdown can be properly enforced since it applies to only part of the population. Schallenberg and Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said, however, that there will be thorough checks by the police.
The Chancellor said the decision to impose a lockdown for the unvaccinated from Monday was 'not taken light-heartedly.'
'With the vaccination rates as they are, we will stay stuck in a vicious cycle' of coronavirus infections, he said. The 'shamefully low' uptake in vaccination had to be forced upwards, he said.
The lockdown measures will be in force for an initial period of 10 days, and would affect some 2 million people.
Those citizens who are not vaccinated will only be permitted to leave their homes for shopping for essential needs, to go to work, or to visit a doctor. There will be random checks to ensure compliance,according to the decision from a meeting of Schallenberg and the heads of the country's state governments. - AFP/dpa
Europe has become the epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic again, prompting some governments to consider re-imposing unpopular lockdowns.
Roughly 65 per cent of Austria's population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, which is one of the lowest rates in western Europe. Many Austrians are sceptical about vaccines, a view encouraged by the far-right Freedom Party, the third biggest in parliament.
While the Netherlands is dealing with its surge in infections by imposing a partial lockdown that applies to all, Austria's conservative-led government says it wants to avoid imposing further restrictions on those who are fully vaccinated.
'We must raise the vaccination rate. It is shamefully low,' Schallenberg told a news conference announcing the new measure after a video call with the governors of Austria's nine provinces.
Those aged 12 and under will be exempt from the lockdown, under which the unvaccinated can only leave their homes for a limited number of reasons like going to work or shopping for essentials, Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein told the news conference, adding that it would initially last 10 days.
Many officials, including within Schallenberg's conservative party and the police, have expressed doubts such a lockdown can be properly enforced since it applies to only part of the population. Schallenberg and Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said, however, that there will be thorough checks by the police.
The Chancellor said the decision to impose a lockdown for the unvaccinated from Monday was 'not taken light-heartedly.'
'With the vaccination rates as they are, we will stay stuck in a vicious cycle' of coronavirus infections, he said. The 'shamefully low' uptake in vaccination had to be forced upwards, he said.
The lockdown measures will be in force for an initial period of 10 days, and would affect some 2 million people.
Those citizens who are not vaccinated will only be permitted to leave their homes for shopping for essential needs, to go to work, or to visit a doctor. There will be random checks to ensure compliance,according to the decision from a meeting of Schallenberg and the heads of the country's state governments. - AFP/dpa