Vienna: Amid a surge in COVID cases, a full national lockdown will be imposed in Austria from Monday, the BBC reported.
Austria saw a record 15,145 new cases on Thursday.
“It would last a maximum of 20 days. Besides, COVID vaccination would become mandatory from February 1, 2022,” Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg told the media.
Notably, Austria has one of the lowest vaccination levels in Western Europe and there has been a consensus over avoiding mandatory vaccinations. Around 65 per cent of its population has been fully vaccinated against the virus, CNBC reported.
He said that many people have been incited not to get the jab and attributed it to “too many political forces, flimsy vaccination opponents and fake news.”
“We don’t want a fifth wave,” he said, adding that the measures are yet to be finalised.
