Austria is employing great means.
It became the first EU country on Monday to confine people unvaccinated against Covid-19 and began vaccinating children as young as five, as Europe faces a resumption of the epidemic.
"It is not out of cheerfulness that we have partially deprived part of the population of their liberty," said Conservative Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg.
But this measure "is already bearing fruit", he said, citing "the massive increase in registrations in vaccination centers".
According to official statistics, nearly half a million people received a dose last week in the central European country, including 128,813 for the first time.
Read alsoContainment of the unvaccinated against Covid: should we follow the example of Austria?
To stop the "vicious circle" of the spread of the virus and boost the "shamefully low" vaccination rate of its population (65% to date), Austria is not kidding.
Since Monday, people over 12 years old not immune after catching Covid or unvaccinated over 12 years old, or two million inhabitants, have not been allowed to leave their homes except to do their shopping. , sports or for medical care.
Under penalty of incurring a 500 euros fine in the event of an inspection.
The "situation is serious", launched the head of government on Sunday, faced with the surge in new cases, the highest since the start of the pandemic - 12,000 per day on average in this country of 8.9 million inhabitants.
A demonstration supported by the far right on Saturday
“Welcome to apartheid”, denounced Monday a collective called Initiative Corona Info accusing the government of designating “scapegoats”.
Austria is installing "a two-class system", indignant Nikolaus Unterguggenberger, a 57-year-old professor whose family is not vaccinated.
He says his children had to stop their music lessons because of the new rules.
“I was afraid it would come to this, but that it was adopted so easily surprises me,” he says.
Deeming the measure illegal, he intends to continue going out and meeting friends.
A demonstration supported by the far-right party FPÖ - whose anti-vaccine leader has just announced that he was positive for Covid 19 - is scheduled for next Saturday.
VIDEO.
Containment of the unvaccinated in Austria: "A discriminatory measure"
"It's pure and simple discrimination," was offended Sunday at a rally Sabine, a 49-year-old energy advisor, who did not wish to give her last name.
“Of course, my life and my freedom are hampered”.
Allegations defended by the Chancellor, who swears not to violate the Constitution.
For children, Vienna has taken the lead
In Vienna, the youngest are also involved.
Even if the European regulator has not yet given its approval for the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech serum in 5-11 year olds, the Austrian capital has chosen to take the lead.
"We feel reassured," reacts Gerald Schwarzl, 41, who came on Monday with his two children for the inauguration of this unprecedented program within the EU.
Pia, eight years old, black dress and pink FFP2 mask, blond hair, says she was "a little" afraid but is very proud to leave with her "Ninja pass", named after the sesame given to children in Austria.
In the city center, traders and passers-by interviewed by AFP generally welcomed these new measures.
"We do what must be done and we want everyone to feel safe," explains Daniel Stocker, manager of the Christmas market located on the town hall square and which had to be canceled last year for cause. pandemic.
