Austria will confine its entire population from Monday and has decided to make vaccination compulsory from February 1, thus becoming the first EU country to take such measures in the face of the resurgence of Covid cases. We must “face reality”, declared the conservative Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg during a press conference in the Tyrol, after discussions with all the governors of the regions. “Despite months of persuasion, we have failed to convince enough people to get vaccinated,” he said, lamenting the current overload of intensive care units.
“Sustainably increasing the vaccination rate is the only way out of this vicious circle,” said Alexander Schallenberg, judging that it was the “exit ticket” from the pandemic. He also announced confinement for a “duration of 20 days”.
8.9 million inhabitants concerned
In Europe, the pandemic is racing and several countries have announced a tightening of restrictions in recent days, in Sweden, Germany or Greece. Already since Monday in Austria, the two million unvaccinated people were not allowed to leave their homes except to do their shopping, sports or for medical care.
From now on, the entire population of 8.9 million inhabitants is affected by the measure in this country with a vaccination rate of 66%, slightly below the European average, despite the introduction of a health pass. from spring.
Recent government restrictions have led to a sharp increase in the number of registrations at vaccination centres. But the number of cases continues to increase, standing at levels not seen since the emergence of the pandemic: Thursday, more than 15,000 new contaminations were recorded.