On Thursday, with cases of COVID-19 rising in the country, Austria’s chancellor Alexander Schallenberg threatened the use of lockdown measures for unvaccinated people. This move follows the implementation of social distancing requirements imposed on Monday, which barred unvaccinated people from various public areas, such as large events, cafes, and restaurants.
Last month, the chancellor said that unvaccinated people in Austria could face lockdown restrictions if COVID-19 case numbers continue to increase.
“Austria has taken a series of measures in recent weeks in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 and encourage more people to get vaccinated. On Monday, new rules took effect barring unvaccinated people who haven’t recovered from an infection from restaurants, hotels, hairdressing salons and large public events,” reported The Associated Press.
This rule, known as the 2-G-rule, applies to vaccinated and “recovered” people, meaning that proof of past infection is accepted in place of vaccination. However, a negative COVID-19 test is no longer sufficient.
While visiting Bregenz in western Austria, the chancellor said that a lockdown for unvaccinated people was “probably unavoidable.” He also added that the unvaccinated are facing an “uncomfortable” winter and Christmas.
“I don’t see why two-thirds should lose their freedom because one-third is dithering,” Schallenberg said. “For me, it is clear that there should be no lockdown for the vaccinated out of solidarity for the unvaccinated.”
Austrian authorities are also considering a vaccine mandate for some groups, with the chancellor describing the country’s vaccination rate of 65% as “shamefully low.”
“According to the incremental plan we actually have just days until we have to introduce the lockdown for unvaccinated people,” Schallenberg told a news conference, according to Reuters. “A lockdown for the unvaccinated means one cannot leave one’s home unless one is going to work, shopping (for essentials), stretching one’s legs — namely exactly what we all had to suffer through in 2020.”
According to the CDC, Austria is ranked as a “Level 4” country, with “Very High” levels of COVID-19. The CDC advises U.S. travelers to “avoid travel to Austria.”
“Under an incremental government plan agreed in September, once 30% of intensive-care beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients, people not vaccinated against the coronavirus will be placed under lockdown, with restrictions on their daily movements,” Reuters explained. “The current level is 20% and rising fast.”
According to the latest available data, Austria is experiencing its highest 7-day average case rate since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. On November 10, the 7-day average was up to 9,110 cases.
“The surge in Austria comes at a time when Eastern European states, with the continent’s lowest vaccination rates, are experiencing some of the world’s highest daily death tolls per capita,” Reuters added. “Dutch experts on Thursday recommended a two-week partial lockdown, which would be Western Europe’s first since vaccines were widely deployed, and other countries are requiring vaccination certificates to enter public spaces.”