Austria re-enters the COVID-19 blockade as cases rise again in Europe | Coronavirus pandemic News

Austria has reintroduced a full national blockade in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus infections as a fourth wave takes over Europe.

Monday’s move as the average daily death toll in the Alpine nation has tripled in recent weeks, and hospitals in hard-hit states have warned that intensive care units are reaching their peak.

The the lock will last at least 10 days but it could be extended to 20, officials said. Austria becomes the first country in western Europe to re-establish full closure since vaccines became available.

According to the measures, people can only leave the house for specific reasons, including buying food, going to the doctor or exercising.

Non-essential shops have been closed and Austrians are being asked to work from home if possible.

Less than 66 percent of Austria’s 8.9 million people are fully vaccinated, and vaccinations have benefited at one of the lowest rates in Western Europe.

As it is blocked again, Austria is also introducing a vaccination order from 1 February with the aim of reducing transmission rates, making it the first European country to introduce inoculation against COVID-19 as a legal requirement.

Details of the operation of the mandate are not yet clear, but the government has said that people who do not comply will be fined.

Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg apologized to people vaccinated on Friday, saying it was not fair to renew the blockade restrictions.

Previously, Austria imposed a blockade only on people without vaccines, but this did not slow down the infections enough.

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Austria is one of several countries in Western Europe where infections are on the rise and there is concern that vaccination rates in hospitals are not enough to sustain the winter rise.

On Friday, it reported 15,809 new infections, the highest ever.

Andrew Simmons of Al Jazeera, making the report in Vienna, said that European governments will take a closer look at the situation in Austria as they also look at re-implementing the restrictions.

“Across Europe, we are seeing a fourth wave, and there is concern among all European governments,” he said.

“Europe is now looking at Austria to see if this blockade will have a big impact. If it does, it may be looking at full blockades across Europe.”

The new measures, especially the vaccination order, have been fierce opposition to some.

A protest in Vienna on Saturday drew 40,000 people, according to police, including members of far-right parties and groups.

Simmons said some Austrians thought the new restrictions and changing the mandatory vaccine were “too much”.

“Saturday’s protests showed how people feel, and people accuse the government of authoritarian tactics,” he said.

Demonstrations against renewed restrictions on viruses was made over the weekend in other European countries, including Belgium, Croatia, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

The World Health Organization warned earlier this month that Europe, once again the epicenter of the pandemic, could have another 500,000 deaths by February if measures are not taken to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.