Austria targets unvaccinated with new COVID-19 lockdown. Here’s why

Austria has imposed a lockdown for those not vaccinated against COVID-19. Protests have been held over the move, but how did the country get to this point?

As Europe once again becomes the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic, one country is taking a bold step to quash infections: Austria.

The western European nation has imposed a lockdown — a measure many Canadians are familiar with — but with a twist: this lockdown is only for the unvaccinated.

As of midnight Monday, roughly two million Austrians eligible for vaccination, but who are not yet inoculated, are prohibited from leaving their homes except for basic activities like working, grocery shopping, going to school — or getting vaccinated.

Protests have taken place throughout the country over the move, but how did Austria get here?

Plagued by a rise of new infections throughout the continent for weeks, Austria, in particular, has seen increased pressures on hospitals.

Only 65 per cent of the country’s population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 — one of the lowest vaccination rates in western Europe.

Austria on Monday saw 894.3 new cases per 100,000 residents over the past week, outpacing neighbouring Germany, which saw 303 new cases per 100,000 residents over seven days, The Associated Press reports.

Those statistics have led Austria’s conservative government to impose the unvaccinated lockdown, which will run until Nov. 24. The rule does not apply to children under 12, who are not yet eligible for vaccination.