Starting this week, Austria has imposed a lockdown only on the unvaccinated due to surging, near-record case numbers, despite more than half of the country’s population being fully-jabbed.
As of Monday the 8th of November (yesterday), unvaccinated individuals are banned from entering cafés, bars, pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, hotels, ski lifts, events of more than 25 people, and many more public settings. Anyone seeking to enter such venues will have to present proof of vaccination at the door.
The move comes as Austria reported a near-record 9,388 cases on Friday last week, which Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg called “exceptional.”
“We’re going to have to tighten the reins on the unvaccinated,” said Schallenberg.
“The occupancies of intensive-care beds are increasing significantly faster than we had expected.”
The government has announced that there will be a 4 week transition period during which proof of a first dose and a negative PCR test will allow one to enter venues. After this, proof of full vaccination will be required.
Around 65% of Austria’s population is fully vaccinated.