As of today, Austria is in a national lockdown – the EU

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However, Austria becomes the first EU country to declare compulsory vaccination, which will take effect on February 1, 2022. The average daily mortality rate has tripled in recent weeks in Austria, and some hospitals have warned that their intensive care units are reaching capacity.

The Austrians enjoy the last day before the lockdown

The lockdown will last at least 10 days, but can last up to 20. People will only be able to leave their homes for limited specific reasons, including buying groceries, seeing a doctor or exercising.

Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schalenberg announced the lockdown and compulsory vaccination on Friday, apologizing to all vaccinated people, saying it was not fair that they should suffer renewed restrictions because of the unvaccinated.

And Vienna revolted against the COVID measures

Austria used to try lockdown only for unvaccinated people, but that didn’t slow down infections enough. Less than 66% of Austria’s 8.9 million people are fully vaccinated, and vaccinations are at one of the lowest levels in Western Europe.

Austria is among several Western European countries where infections are rising rapidly and where there are fears that vaccination levels are insufficient to contain the winter surge and hospital overcrowding. The new lockdown in Austria is the fourth since the beginning of the pandemic. On Friday, the country reported 15,809 new infections, which is the highest level of all time, reminds “Focus”.