Austria imposes lockdown for people who aren't vaccinated


With COVID-19 infections and deaths on the rise, the Austrian government has imposed a lockdown for residents who have not been vaccinated against the virus.
The lockdown went into effect early Monday, and for at least the next 10 days, unvaccinated people 12 and older can only leave their homes if they are doing something essential like going to work, or buying groceries, or getting vaccinated. Kids under 12 are excluded from the lockdown because they aren't yet permitted to get the vaccine.
Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg told reporters on Sunday that the concern is if the number of cases keeps going up, hospitals will soon be overwhelmed. "It's our job as the government of Austria to protect the people," he said. "Therefore we decided that starting Monday ... there will be a lockdown for the unvaccinated." Extra police officers will be out checking to make sure people on the streets are vaccinated, Schallenberg added, and anyone found in violation of the lockdown order could be fined up to €1,450 ($1,660).
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Austria has one of Western Europe's lowest vaccination rates, with only 65 percent of the population fully vaccinated. On Sunday, there were 11,552 new COVID-19 cases reported, up from 8,554 last week. Looking at the seven-day infection rate, Schallenberg said that "the rate for the unvaccinated is at over 1,700, while for the vaccinated it is at 383." He called on those who have been fully vaccinated to get their booster shots, or else "we will never get out of this vicious circle."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Trump U-turns on weapons to Ukraine
Speed Read Unhappy with Putin, Trump decides the US will go back to arming Ukraine against Russia's attacks
-
Ukraine scrambles as Trump cuts weapons deliveries
Speed Read The halting of weapons shipments was driven by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, a Ukraine funding skeptic
-
IAEA: Iran could enrich uranium 'within months'
Speed Read The chief United Nations nuclear inspector, Rafael Grossi, says Iran could be enriching uranium again soon
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
Iran nukes program set back months, early intel suggests
Speed Read A Pentagon assessment says US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites only set the program back by months, not years. This contradicts President Donald Trump's claim.
-
Trump says Iran and Israel agreed to ceasefire
Speed Read This followed a night of Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and multiple waves of missiles fired by Iran
-
Israel strikes Iran, killing military and nuclear chiefs
Speed Read Israeli officials said the attack was a 'preemptive' strike on Iran's nuclear program
-
Israel deports Thunberg after seizing Gaza aid boat
speed read The Swedish activist was delivering food and medical aid to Palestine, highlighting the growing humanitarian crisis there