Starting today, all unvaccinated Austrians over the age of 12 – around 2 million people – have been put under lockdown on pain of substantial fines. Meanwhile, the fully-vaccinated majority can live their lives freely.
The law came into effect at midnight on Sunday evening, and means that any Austrian over the age of 12 who has not received both doses of the vaccine will be confined to their home except for essential purposes such as going to work, school, exercise, or buying essential groceries.
Breaching the lockdown will result in a fine of up to €1,450.
The lockdown is expected to affect around 2 million of Austria’s roughly 9 million population. It will be in place for 10 days before lawmakers review whether it should be extended.
Ministers say that the goal of the policy is to pressure people to become vaccinated in greater numbers.
Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg told reporters yesterday that “It’s our job as the government of Austria to protect the people. Therefore we decided that starting Monday…there will be a lockdown for the unvaccinated.”
He urged those who had already been vaccinated to receive their booster jabs, saying that otherwise “we will never get out of this vicious circle.”