Recently, Singapore’s been coming down hard on people who are unvaccinated against COVID-19:
- MOH: Unvaccinated People Who End Up in ICU Could Face $25,000 Bill Before Subsidies
- MOM: Employers Can Sack Unvaccinated Staff If They Can’t Perform Their Work from 1 Jan 2022
- 38 Unvaccinated People Caught Dining in Hawker Centres in a Week
Yes, it’s not a great time to be unvaccinated.
However, if you think Singapore’s the only country doing so, you’re wrong.
In Austria, There’s a Lockdown for People Who Aren’t Vaccinated
Austria, a member of the European Union, went ahead with a drastic measure to fight against the coronavirus.
On 14 Nov 2021, a nationwide lockdown was announced by Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg.
However, unlike normal lockdowns, this particular one is targeted at a particular subgroup of the population: those unvaccinated against COVID-19.
“The situation is serious… We don’t take this step with a light heart but unfortunately, it is necessary.”
Individuals over the age of 12, who are not vaccinated, or have not recently recovered from COVID-19, will not be allowed to leave their homes except for essential activities.
Essential activities, in this case, refer to exercising, seeking medical care and buying groceries.
Austria’s Situation
Currently, about 65% of Austria’s 9 million population are vaccinated.
As for whether the vaccination rate will increase, it depends as the third biggest group in Parliament, the Freedom Party, is encouraging Austrians to be skeptical of the vaccines.
Germany has also listed Austria as a high-risk location, imposing a quarantine requirement on travellers coming from the country.
Daily new cases in Austria has surged with more than 13,000 new infections on Saturday, 13 Nov 2021.
This has reportedly impacted Austria’s winter tourism industry.
Not The First Time
This isn’t the first time the Austrian government is imposing measures against the unvaccinated in the country.
A week ago, unvaccinated individuals were banned from places such as restaurants, hotels, ski lifts and theatres.
Unlike the Netherlands that chose to impose a partial lockdown across the entire population, Austria decided to place a part of its population on lockdown as it effectively reduces the contact between the vaccinated and the non-vaccinated.
Random Spot Checks
As with locking down part of the population, there were doubts on whether the lockdown will be properly enforced.
Well, the chancellor and his team are ready to make sure it does.
There will be thorough police checks and should any breaches be found, fines of up to €1,450 euros (S$2,250) can be imposed.
Citizens will also be made aware that the police can check their vaccination status at any time.
Citizens must show an official COVID-19 pass when stopped by the police.
Non-essential shops will be off-limits to unvaccinated individuals.
It was added that only the police will conduct spot checks for vaccination statuses.
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Feature Image: J. Adam / Shutterstock.com