Austria Enforces Lockdown on Unvaccinated People

(Bloomberg) -- Austrian police have been ordered to stop and check individuals on the streets to enforce a lockdown on people who have refused a Covid-19 vaccine, part of a series of stricter curbs across Europe to counter a renewed surge in infections.

Starting on Monday, people who can’t show proof of vaccination and are caught going into cinemas, gyms or retail stores face fines starting at 500 euros ($573). Business owners could be tapped for 3,600 euros, according to the Interior Ministry. 

The country needs to raise its “shamefully low vaccination rate” of less than two-thirds of the population, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said at a press conference in Vienna. “We are not taking this step lightly. But unfortunately it’s necessary.” 

Austria’s unique approach to containing the virus comes as the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control warns that Covid-19 cases are spiking. As the region again becomes a hot spot for the disease, governments are clamping down on contact to keep hospitals from getting overloaded.

The Netherlands has entered another partial lockdown, with bars, restaurants and non-essential shops required to shut down and limits placed on private gatherings. Germany may follow with similar measures targeted at people who haven’t taken up the government’s offer to get inoculated. 

“It’s absolutely necessary that there has to be contact restrictions for unvaccinated,” Oliver Krischer, the deputy head of the Greens caucus in German parliament, said on ZDF television on Monday. “It’s very, very important that the majority of the population -- the people who have gotten vaccinated, the people who have done their part -- are able to continue to take part in public life.” 

Germany reported a record contagion rate on Monday, with 303 cases per 100,000 people over the past seven days -- almost three times higher than a year ago. Europe’s largest economy is also dealing with a tepid take-up of vaccines, with less than 70% of the population fully immunized despite widespread availability.

The three parties now negotiating a government coalition -- the Social Democrats, Free Democrats and Greens -- are planning to present new pandemic legislation later this week. Current extraordinary measures to combat the spread of the virus will expire on Nov. 25.

In Ireland, government officials will meet Monday evening to consider next steps. They’re expected to follow the National Public Health Emergency Team’s guidance and advise people to work from home where possible, according to the Irish Times. A full cabinet meeting will follow on Tuesday to approve any new measures, the newspaper reported.

The renewed restrictions threatens the region’s recovery. For Austria, the economic consequences of the new lockdown could approach 350 million euros a week, the nation’s trade association warned. 

But the Alpine country’s normally combative provincial leadership has lined up behind the government’s new measures in the hopes of saving the key winter tourism season. Germany designated its Austrian neighbor a “high risk” zone over the weekend, making travel more restrictive. 

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