Covid: Austria imposes Lockdown for those who haven’t been vaccinated.
Image credit: Independent.ie
In Austria, about two million people who have not been properly vaccinated against COVID-19 have been placed on lockdown because of an increase in infections.
People who have not been vaccinated will only be allowed to leave the house for particular purposes, such as employment or shopping. With only roughly 65 per cent of the population inoculated, Austria has one of the lowest vaccination rates in Western Europe.
Meanwhile, the infection rate is above 800 cases per 100,000 people after seven days making it one of the highest in Europe.
Overall, Europe has been the worst-affected region by the pandemic, with some countries implementing restrictions and issuing warnings about rising infections.
Despite health authorities’ appeals for laws like those requiring facial coverings in crowded and enclosed locations to be reinstated to avoid a winter crisis, the UK, which has one of the highest COVID infection rates in the world, has failed to implement restrictions.
The measures, which were implemented on Monday in Austria in response to mounting pressure on the country’s hospitals, will initially continue for ten days. Exemptions will be given to children under the age of 12 and people who have recently recovered from the infection.
After Health Minister Jens Spahn warned of a pandemic of the unvaccinated, Germany’s federal government and state leaders will meet later this week to discuss possible new restrictions.
At 67.3 per cent, Germany has a slightly higher vaccination rate than Austria, at 67.3 per cent, but not by much. Austria has been designated as a high-risk area by Germany, requiring anyone arriving from the nation to undergo quarantine.
According to Our World in Data, only about 35% of Russia’s population has been fully vaccinated. To prevent diseases, Moscow put stores, restaurants, and schools on partial lockdown at the end of October, and employees were given a nine-day paid holiday.
Other countries are enacting laws that only apply to those who have not been vaccinated. Beginning December 17th, unvaccinated people will be barred from restaurants, pubs, and sporting activities in Queensland, Australia.