Austria imposes full lockdown as COVID surges

Authorities in Austria have announced a full national lockdown, starting from Monday, amid the resurgence of COVID-19.

Few days ago, the country imposed a lockdown on the unvaccinated.

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Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said it would last a maximum of 20 days and there would be a legal requirement to get vaccinated from 1 February 2022.

The country is taking after many other European countries that are imposing restrictions as cases rise.

“We don’t want a fifth wave,” said Mr Schallenberg after meeting the governors of Austria’s nine provinces at a resort in western Austria.

Latest figures show an incidence rate of 990.7 cases per 100,000 people in the past week.

According to Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein imposing a lockdown was a “last resort”.

With the measures, Austrians will be told to work from home as non-essential shops will close, while schools will remain open for children who require face-to-face learning.