Austria orders nationwide blockade for unvaccinated Coronavirus pandemic News

The movement prohibits unvaccinated people from going out of their homes, except for basic activities such as working, buying food, or getting vaccinated.

The Austrian government has ordered a nationwide blockade for people who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19, a measure aimed at slowing the rapid spread of the disease in the country.

The movement, which will take effect at midnight on Sunday, prohibits people without vaccinations from over the age of 12 from leaving their homes except for basic activities such as working, shopping for food, taking a walk or getting vaccinated.

Authorities are concerned that deaths are on the rise and that hospital staff will no longer be able to handle more and more COVID-19 patients.

“Our job as the Austrian government is to protect the people,” Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg told reporters in Vienna’s capital on Sunday. “That’s why we decided from Monday … that there will be a blockade for those without vaccines.”

The blockade affects about 2 million people in the country with a population of 8.9 million, the APA news agency reported.

The blockade will initially last 10 days and police have been asked to check on people outside to make sure there is a vaccine, Schallenberg said, and that additional officers will patrol to control the blockade.

Unincorporated people can receive a fine of up to € 1,450 ($ 1,660) if they fail to comply with the restrictions.

Austria has one of the lowest vaccination rates in western Europe, with about 65 percent of the total population fully vaccinated.

In recent weeks, the country has faced a worrying trend of coronavirus infections. On Sunday, it reported 11,552 new cases, up from 8,554 a week ago.

“As far as vaccination rates are concerned, we will be left in a vicious circle of infections,” Schallenberg said. The use of the vaccine had to be forced upwards of “embarrassingly low”, he added.

The seven-day infection rate is 775.5 new cases per 100,000 population. By comparison, the rate is 289 in neighboring Germany, which has also raised alarm over the already rising numbers.

Schallenberg noted that although the seven-day infection rate of people who have been vaccinated has been declining in recent days, the same rate is growing rapidly for those who have not been vaccinated.

The rector also called on people who have been vaccinated to take the booster.