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Queue in front of a Covid-19 test center in a shopping center in the Austrian municipality of Pasching
Photo: FOTOKERSCHI.AT / picture alliance / APA / picturedesk.com
In order to further contain the spread of the coronavirus, massive restrictions for unvaccinated people will apply in Austria from this Monday.
Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg and the heads of government of the federal states decided on Sunday in Vienna.
"We are not taking this step lightly, but unfortunately it is necessary," said Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP).
About two million people are affected.
The police want to set up special patrols to monitor compliance with the regulations.
Violations can result in a fine of up to 1450 euros.
According to the draft that has already been made public, the exit restrictions are to apply by ordinance until November 24th.
Unvaccinated people are only allowed to leave the house or apartment for urgent reasons: for grocery shopping, work or training as well as for physical recovery.
Schallenberg referred on the one hand to the more contagious Delta variant and on the other hand to the, in his words, "shamefully low vaccination rate" in Austria.
Experts call for lockdown for everyone
The restrictions for unvaccinated people in the country are already great - for example, due to the 3G rule in the workplace and the 2G rule in public life.
Records are set almost every day for new corona infections in Austria.
More than 13,000 infections were registered on Saturday.
The seven-day incidence of new infections per 100,000 population rose to 814.6.
According to a step-by-step plan by the government, the lockdown for unvaccinated persons should actually only come when 600 intensive care beds have been occupied.
According to the authorities, 433 places are currently occupied.
Because of the high number of infections again, the government has now taken this step forward.
In order to avoid excessive stress on the clinics, experts are calling for a lockdown for everyone.
The government wants to avoid that.
Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen also joined the discussion.
"In view of the extremely rising numbers, the mood in our population ranges from depression and concerns about economic progress to mutual incomprehension and aggression," wrote the head of state on Facebook.
In view of the threatening situation, the country needs clarity and perhaps also uncomfortable measures.
Germany has declared Austria a high-risk corona area again.
This means that travelers and commuters have had to comply with stricter rules since Sunday.
Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has recovered must be in quarantine for at least five days when they return to Germany.
nil / dpa / Reuters