The vaccination debate has not stopped, for a single second, since the COVID pandemic began.
Most people are happy to take a vaccination to reduce the chances of serious illness from COVID, but there are some that do not want to take it, and often refuse to do so.
In an attempt to stop the spread of COVID, Austria have imposed a lockdown for all unvaccinated people.
From midnight tonight, unvaccinated citizens will only be able to leave their homes for work, school, exercise and buying essential supplies.
Police will be monitoring the movements of unvaccinated people, and if they break lockdown, they face a fine of around $2,000.
Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said:
“We are not taking this step lightly but it is necessary,”
“It’s our job as the government of Austria to protect the people. Therefore we decided that starting Monday… there will be a lockdown for the unvaccinated.”
“In reality we have told one third of the population: you will not leave your apartment anymore apart from for certain reasons,”
“That is a massive reduction in contacts between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated.”
Austria has a low vaccination rate, and the new lockdown will apply to 2 million of their 8.9 million population.
Lockdown will last 10 days before it is reviewed.