The Austrian government has ordered a nationwide lockdown for unvaccinated people from November 15th to combat rising coronavirus infections and deaths. The lockdown affects almost 2 million people in the Alpine country, of 8.9 million. It does not apply to children under 12 because they cannot yet officially get vaccinated. The lockdown will initially last for ten days, and police will go patrolling to check people outside to make sure they are vaccinated, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said, adding that additional forces will be assigned to the patrols. Unvaccinated people will be fined up to 1,450 euros ($1,660) if they violate the lockdown.
The move prohibits unvaccinated people from leaving their homes except for essential activities such as working, grocery shopping, going for a walk or getting vaccinated. Authorities are concerned about the rising infections and deaths and that soon hospital staff will no longer be able to handle the growing number of COVID-19 patients.
“It’s our job as the government of Austria to protect the people,” Schallenberg said. “Therefore we decided that starting Monday there will be a lockdown for the unvaccinated.”
