Austria is placing millions of people not fully vaccinated against the coronavirus in lockdown as of Monday to deal with a surge in infections to record levels, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said on Sunday.
"The incidence within vaccinated people is declining, but it continues to rise exponentially for the people who are not vaccinated," Schallenberg told reporters.
"Currently, the incidence for unvaccinated people in the 18-59 age group is over 1,700, so today we have decided that from tomorrow there will be a lockdown for the unvaccinated in Austria," he added.
Europe has become the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic again, prompting some governments to consider re-imposing unpopular lockdowns.
Roughly six per cent of Austria's population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which is one of the lowest rates in western Europe.
Those aged 12 and under will be exempt from the lockdown, under which the unvaccinated can only leave their homes for a limited number of reasons like going to work or shopping for essentials.
Many officials, including within Schallenberg's conservative party and the police, have expressed doubts such a lockdown can be properly enforced since it applies to only part of the population. Schallenberg and Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said, however, that there will be thorough checks by the police.
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