Covid-19: Lockdown returns to Austria
Austria has imposed a fourth national lockdown to halt a surge in Covid-19 infections.
Austria has returned to a full - fourth - national lockdown as protests against new restrictions aimed at curbing Covid-19 infections. Across many part of Europe infection rates have risen sharply prompting warnings from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Austrian lockdown comes just days after an announcement of a compulsory vaccination drive β to take effect in February - and restrictions on those unvaccinated. Newsday heard from Tanja Malle - a journalist with ORF Austrian public radio.
βMost of the public do understand that a fourth lockdown is needed. The protests were not only about the lockdown but also against mandatory vaccination again Covid-19.β
Rates of vaccination βare kind of low compared to western Europe. Overall in Austria 66% of the population (are) vaccinated. Now we are witnessing overburdened ICUs (intensive care units) and some hospitals in some provinces that are postponing heart or cancer surgeries already.β
(Pic: Abandoned tables of a closed restaurant amid a fourth Covid lockdown in Vienna, Austria; Credit: Reuters)
Duration:
This clip is from
More clips from Newsday
-
Liam Payne: Fans mourn death of One Direction singer
Duration: 03:35
-
Sudan's footballers provide 'joy amongst the chaos'
Duration: 04:00
-
Hurricane Milton: The residents deciding to stay, or evacuate
Duration: 02:59
-
Mpox spreading rapidly in Burundi
Duration: 03:21