Lockdown for unvaccinated in effect in Austria

(Patria) - Due to the large number of COVID-19 cases, a lockdown for the unvaccinated has come into effect in Austria today, with violations punishable by 1,450 euros, and the government is also considering introducing a curfew.

Figures in Austria are rising, with more than 11,552 cases of infection recorded on Sunday, and the seven-day incidence per 100,000 people has risen to almost 850.

Unvaccinated or recovered individuals in Austria are only allowed to leave their homes from today in exceptional cases such as grocery shopping, visiting a doctor or pharmacy, or going to work.

Compliance with this measure will be strictly checked, and violations will be punished with fines of up to 1450 euros.

The isolation measures will be in effect for an initial period of ten days and have been adopted by provincial and federal governments, but Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said that individual provinces are free to set even stricter rules.

The capital, Vienna, has already announced that it will introduce additional rules requiring a PCR test from vaccinated and recovered citizens who go out indoors at night and at all events attended by more than 25 people.

We hope this will encourage vaccination. The previous tightening of measures has already led to a jump in vaccination rates, the Chancellor said.

Around 65 percent of the population is currently vaccinated in Austria.

The Austrian government is also considering introducing a curfew at night. A decision on this move, which would apply to the entire country, will be made on Wednesday, Austrian Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein said on Sunday evening on ORF's ZiB2 program.

The restriction will apply from 10 PM, he said.