Austria pronounces full lockdown amidst contemporary coronavirus outbreak

Austria on Friday introduced that it’ll impose a whole lockdown and make vaccinations obligatory, turning into the primary nation within the European Union to take such an excessive measure in a bid to deal with the contemporary outbreak of coronavirus an infection. 
Other European nations are additionally tightening restrictions because the an infection charge of individuals affected by the Chinese virus has spiked with the onset of winter. However, no different nation in Europe has gone to the extent of imposing a blanket lockdown, harking back to the primary few months of the outbreak that swept internationally in early 2020. 
Besides Austria, solely the Vatican has mandated vaccinations for all. But the autumn has introduced with it a brand new surge of coronavirus infections throughout the continent, with nations reminiscent of Spain and Portugal, that are among the many highest vaccination protection, additionally witnessing an uptick within the variety of COVID-19 caseloads. 
Announcing the sweeping measures taken by the federal government, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg stated lockdown in Austria will begin from Monday, i.e 22 November 2021, whereas the vaccinations will turn out to be obligatory beginning February 1 subsequent 12 months. 
Approximately, two out of three Austrians are absolutely vaccinated, one of many lowest inoculation charges in Europe. Schallenberg has pinned the blame on low vaccination adoption charges in Austria as the first causes for his authorities’s choice to implement a whole lockdown. 
“Despite months of persuasion, we have not succeeded in convincing enough people to get vaccinated,” Schallenberg informed a press convention within the western Tyrol state, the place he met regional authorities heads.
“Sustainably increasing the vaccination rate is the only way to get out of this vicious circle,” he stated.
Schallenberg additionally slammed those that promoted vaccine hesitancy and referred to as their efforts of undermining the nation’s inoculation efforts as an “attack on the health system”, including that vaccinations had been the “exit ticket” out of the pandemic.
After lockdown will probably be imposed in Austria, folks is not going to be allowed to enterprise out of their homes, aside from going out to work, looking for necessities and exercising. Schools will stay open however dad and mom will probably be requested to maintain their youngsters at house if doable. In addition to this, the federal government will encourage distant working in order that crowding in workplace locations might be averted. 
Starting this week, Austria had already imposed a lockdown for these not vaccinated or just lately cured, turning into the primary European nation to take action. However, spiralling coronavirus circumstances pressured the federal government to rethink its choice and impose a sweeping lockdown to curb the unfold of the virus. 
On Thursday, a brand new report of greater than 15,000 new circumstances had been recorded within the Alpine EU member of almost 9 million folks.