Austria’s government approved the fourth COVID-19 lockdown, while the people are still protesting. The restrictive measure takes effect from Monday, making Vienna the first EU nation to reimpose the unpopular move this autumn in the face of deteriorating of the epidemiological situation.
In Austria, the surging of the coronavirus infections made the government to announce the lockdown. The first one was introduced since the jabs became widely available, the current is the fourth lockdown. According to the tightened rules, most places people gather, like cafes and bars, cannot open their doors for 10 or even 20 days initially.
Thus, Christmas markets probably will not be opened this year as usual. However, in a last-minute change, ski lifts remained open to the vaccinated. Hotels, the Austrian however, closed to tourists not already staying there when the lockdown began.
People are exhausted of these lockdowns, they are saying that the political leadership definitely failed on all levels. Most of the Austrians called the 4th lockdown ‘a luxury prison’. Actually, people confused because they were promised by the government that if they got vaccinated they would be able to lead a normal life. In a reality, that’s not true.
In Austria, 66 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Many Austrians remains sceptical about vaccinations.
The government imposed a lockdown on the unvaccinated last week, but daily COVID-19 numbers kept rising far above the previous peak reached a year ago and ICU care beds are running short.
Under the tightened rules, people can leave home for a limited number of reasons like going to work or buying essentials. Going for a walk is allowed with no limit on time or distance. Only one person from another household can be met at a time, the government said.
