Austria plans to approve lockdown for the unvaccinated on Sunday

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Austria plans to approve lockdown for the unvaccinated on Sunday

Reuters | November 12, 2021


VIENNA, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Austria's government is likely to decide on Sunday to impose a lockdown on people who are not fully vaccinated against the coronavirus as daily infections have surged to record levels, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said on Friday.

Schallenberg did not say when the lockdown would take effect, but the two provinces hardest-hit by this wave of infections, Upper Austria and Salzburg, will introduce the measure for themselves on Monday.

Roughly 65% of Austria's population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, 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.

"The aim is very clear: that we give the green light this Sunday for a nationwide lockdown for the unvaccinated," Schallenberg, a conservative, told a news conference, adding that intensive-care units are increasingly strained.

"The development is such that I do not think it is sensible to wait ... We will take this step now and my wish is that we take this step on Sunday and nationally for all nine provinces."

Schallenberg said on Thursday the unvaccinated would face the same restrictions on their daily movements that the whole country endured in three lockdowns last year.

Schallenberg wants to avoid placing further restrictions on those who are vaccinated to encourage holdouts to get a shot. Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein said health workers will be required to get vaccinated. read more

In possibly a bigger blow to Austria's economy than the planned lockdown its biggest source of tourists, Germany, will classify the country a high-risk region as of Sunday, imposing a quarantine on people arriving from there. Austria is a popular destination for winter sports.

Infections are surging across Europe as colder weather sets in and Netherlands is expected to announce a three-week partial lockdown that would apply to the whole population. read more

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Days Into Lockdown For The Unvaccinated, Austria COVID Cases Hit Record High

ZH |  NOV 18, 2021

As the debate rages over the effectiveness of lockdowns in combatting the spread of Covid-19, Austria is experiencing its biggest surge to date, hitting a record high number of confirmed infections three days into its government-imposed total 'quarantine for the unvaccinated'.

Daily infections surpassed 14,000 for the first time since the start of the pandemic. On Wednesday health authorities recorded 14,416 new infections, a fresh record, according to Reuters.

This is compared to the peak from a year ago of just under 10,000 daily infections.

Austria has recently reported that about 65% of its population is now fully vaccinated. At the start of this week the government enacted a ban on any unvaccinated person going outside their home for reasons other than getting food, going to work, or attending health appointments - and even then they are subject to testing.

In recent days images and footage have emerged of police literally patrolling streets and department stores asking random citizens for proof of vaccination. Those under the stay at home order number at least a couple million unvaccinated Austrians.

Reuters details that despite being days in to the draconian lockdown measures, hospitals in many regions are at capacity:

The situation is worst in two of Austria's nine provinces, Upper Austria and Salzburg, where hospitals are coming under increasing strain. Salzburg has said it is preparing for a triage situation when the number of people needing intensive care beds exceeds supply, though that stage has not yet been reached.

It remains to be seen whether the Austrian government's plan to essentially "punish" the unvaccinated will actually allay the rapidly rising case numbers. As we previously detailed based on disturbing emerging videos of police in action:

Those caught outside without proof of vaccination face fines of up to $1,660.

Last week, Austria’s Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said the lockdown was designed to make the unvaccinated “suffer” as everyone else had done during earlier lockdowns.

Whether these draconian patrols will continue remains to be seen.

Recall too that Israel was early on among the "most vaxxed nations", and yet this summer the country experienced a huge surge as the Delta variant spread.

Israel even had 'Covid green passes' - or what amounted to a "vaccine passport" to control the movements of the populace, particularly the unvaxxed, which similar to Austria now were barred from restaurants, hotels, and other public venues.