Austria will take the bold step of becoming the first European state to make vaccination mandatory. Vaccinations will become a legal requirement in Austria from February 1, 2022.
The other news from the Central European state is the implementation of the first full-scale lockdown imposed by any European government this winter, from Monday, November 22, according to bbc.com.
These regulations were announced just days after the state imposed a lockdown on unvaccinated folk aged 12 years and over, and policed it with officers on the streets asking for vaccination certificates.
Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said this new lockdown would last a maximum of 20 days. He was responding to record case numbers and one of the lowest vaccination levels in Western Europe.
“Flimsy vaccination opponents”
"We don't want a fifth wave," said Schallenberg. Following a meeting of governors of Austria's nine provinces , the Chancellor referred to mandatory vaccinations saying that for a long time, there had been a consensus over avoiding mandatory vaccinations. However, too many people had been incited not to get the jab, because of "too many political forces, flimsy vaccination opponents and fake news", he added.
Currently only around 66% of Austria’s population is vaxxed.
Austrian Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said imposing a lockdown was a "last resort" as new records in infection rates were recorded in the country.
From Monday, Austrians are required to work from home, non-essential shops will close, but schools will remain open for children who require face-to-face learning. The situation will be reassessed after 10 days, and should end for vaccinated people on or by December 13, but for unvaccinated people it will continue beyond that date for an unspecified duration.
No tourists from outside EU
According to the government website, Austria.info, from November 22 until at least December 13, travel to Austria for touristic purposes from countries outside the EU will not be allowed. Entry for residents of most European and some other countries is still possible without quarantine, if they can show proof of full vaccination, past infection or a PCR test.
Other Eurolockdowns
*Some observers believe Germany may be next after days of record infections last week. German Health Minister Jens Spahn spoke of "a national emergency that requires a combined national effort".
German leaders have already agreed to introduce restrictions for unvaccinated people in areas with high hospital admissions. And parliament has backed requirements for people to show Covid passes on buses and trains, and in workplaces.
In Bavaria, bordering Austria, state premier Markus Söder has declared a lockdown for the unvaccinated. Bars and clubs will close for three weeks and all Christmas markets have been cancelled.
*In Slovakia and the Czech Republic, a lockdown for the unvaccinated will start on Monday, November 22.
*The Netherlands introduced a partial lockdown last weekend.
*In the UK there is currently no lockdown. The wearing of masks is required only in some parts of the UK.
*Russia on Friday declared a record number of 1 254 Covid deaths in 24 hours, for the third day in a row.
*Hungary reported its highest level of infections yet. But it has taken a lighter approach, and rather than requiring unvaccinated people to stay at home it has opted for the implementation of a third booster jab, mandatory for health workers, and the wearing of masks in enclosed spaces.
*Belgium implemented tighter restrictions last Saturday, November 13, requiring workers to work from home four days a week.
The Europe regional director of the World Health Organization, Hans Kluge, has already warned of a hard European winter ahead, blaming insufficient vaccination coverage along with the easing of preventive measures and the spread of the “more transmissible Delta variant".
