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2 million at home, the rest are held at Christmas: Israelis in Austria tell of the first closure of its kind
The strict restrictions are imposed on residents who refused to be vaccinated against Corona, while the streets are filled with the atmosphere of the upcoming holiday.
Israeli citizens living in the country say that politicians are turning a blind eye to innocent citizens and sharing about the rigid enforcement actions of the authorities: "It's all because of them"
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Austria
Corona virus
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Tuesday, 16 November, 2021, 23:05 Updated: 23:08
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Hava Bogier (Photo: courtesy of the photographers)
Austria began enforcing a closure on some two million unvaccinated people against corona yesterday (Monday) - and a day and a half since the unprecedented move came in, criticism has been leveled at the population who chose not to get vaccinated and left the virus in the country.
Israelis living in the country say vaccine-opposed politicians are turning a blind eye to innocent civilians, and sharing about the authorities' rigid enforcement actions.
Hava Bogier, a physician and director of a rehabilitation clinic living in Vienna, said the first restriction of its kind was an attempt to save the situation and indirectly force the unvaccinated to get vaccinated.
According to her, there are those who take advantage of the situation for political gain.
"In Austria there are about 30% of the population who are dragged after those who want to make it a political weapon, like the blood libels in the Middle Ages."
"The rest of the population, and I am one of them, are suffering from the situation. Now the vaccine refusers are trying to take to the streets and make riots," she continued.
"My opinion as a physician is that the vision is necessary to save human lives and the functioning of health services. This is a medical rather than a political problem."
More on Walla!
Two million unvaccinated Austrians go into quarantine: "The goal - to get them vaccinated"
To the full article
Necessary move.
Vaccine queue in Vienna, yesterday (Photo: Reuters)
Police in Austria have stepped up checks to ensure the closure is enforced, although city streets looked as busy as usual.
Anyone who violates the new regulations, which do not apply to people aged 12 and under who cannot be vaccinated, risks a fine.
The conservative government in the country, where about nine million people live, restricted the unvaccinated from leaving their homes only for a limited number of reasons, such as commuting to work or shopping for essential goods.
This is in order to deal with a peak in the corona outbreak in the country, where the rate of full immunization is only about 65%, one of the lowest in Western Europe.
Cops on the streets of Vienna (Photo: Reuters)
Avi Payne-Chen (Photo: Courtesy of those photographed)
Avi Payne-Chen, an Israeli living in Vienna and owner of Gaia Tourism for Luxury Holidays, said that in the Christmas markets that are starting to operate, strict enforcement and inspections are carried out in an attempt to find the unvaccinated.
He elaborated on the restrictions enforced on the ground and said: "For those who are vaccinated life is conducted normally, but for those who are not, it is possible to leave the house only for medical treatment and buying food or for vital work."
According to him, in open areas there is no obligation to wear masks.
"This is a responsibility that every resident has"
Michael Kenner (Photo: Screenshot,.)
Michael Kenner, a software engineer living in the capital, said that "the current closure without vaccines is necessary and also important. The very announcement of the closure about a week ago made people get vaccinated, in other words: it's a motivation to get vaccinated."
He added: "I want to know that when I go to the gym or restaurant I am safe and that I will leave healthy. I want to know when I meet my grandparents that I do not endanger them. It is a responsibility that every citizen and every resident has."
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