The move bans unvaccinated people over the age of 12 from leaving home, except for basic activities such as work, grocery shopping, walking, or vaccination.
Authorities are concerned about the increase in infections and mortality, and soon hospital staff are concerned that they will not be able to cope with the increasing influx of COVID-19 patients.
“Protecting the people is our job as the Austrian government,” Prime Minister Alexander Schallenberg told reporters in Vienna on Sunday. “Therefore, from Monday … we have decided to blockade unvaccinated people.”
The blockade has affected about 2 million people in the Alpine country of 8.9 million, APA news agency reported. It does not apply to children under the age of 12 as they are not yet officially vaccinated.
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The blockade will last for an initial 10 days, and police will continue to patrol to confirm that outsiders are vaccinated, Schallenberg said, adding that the patrol will be assigned additional units.
Unvaccinated individuals can be fined up to € 1,450 ($ 1,660) for violating the blockade.
Austria is one of the lowest vaccination rates in Western Europe. Only about 65% of the total population is fully vaccinated. In recent weeks Austria has faced growing concerns about infectious diseases. Authorities reported 11,552 new cases on Sunday. A week ago, there were 8,554 new daily infections.
Deaths have also increased in recent weeks. On Sunday, 17 new deaths were reported. Overall, the Austrian pandemic killed 11,706 people, the APA reports.
The 7-day infection rate is 775.5 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants. In comparison, Germany, a neighboring country, has 289, warning the already increasing number.
Schallenberg noted that the seven-day infection rate for vaccinated people has declined recently, but the infection rate for unvaccinated people has risen rapidly.
“The unvaccinated rate is over 1,700, but the vaccinated rate is 383,” the Prime Minister said.
Schallenberg also called on vaccinated people to get booster shots, or “never get out of this virtuous circle.”
Copyright © 2021 By AP communication. all rights reserved.
Austrian blockade: Increasing cases of COVID and dying, banned from leaving home unvaccinated
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