Sharjah24 – AFP: Austria's government said Friday it wanted a nationwide lockdown for those not vaccinated against or recovered from the coronavirus, while Vienna city authorities said they would start vaccinating children as young as five -- a first in the EU.
Only around 65 percent of the population is fully vaccinated in Austria, a rate described by Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg as "shamefully low".
Salzburg and Upper Austria states, which have seen some of the worst case rates, are already introducing a lockdown for the unvaccinated from Monday.
This means they will not be able to leave the house except for reasons such as buying essential supplies, exercise or seeking medical care.
"The aim is clear: we want on Sunday to give the green light for a nationwide lockdown for the unvaccinated," Schallenberg told a press conference.
He said lockdowns across the country would be enforced with "random" spot checks.
The measure will have to be signed off by parliament and a meeting of the heads of regional governments over the weekend before it can be rolled out across the country.
Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig said in a statement on Friday that the city authorities there would also be introducing extra measures in order to "keep in check... the dangerous development" of infection rates in the city.
Among these will be vaccinations for children between five and 11 as of Monday, making Vienna the first EU region to vaccinate children of this age.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has not yet issued an authorisation for any of the vaccines to be used for this age group but member states have the right to do so anyway to respond to a public health emergency.
In addition, Vienna residents will now be able to get a third booster vaccination only four months after their second dose, not six months as originally planned.
In order to attend events of more than 25 people or go to bars and restaurants in the city in the evening, not only will proof of vaccination or recovery be required but also the results of a PCR test no more than 48 hours old.
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