Austria to impose nationwide COVID lockdown and vaccine mandate

Bialystok, Poland — Austria become the first European country to announce a new nationwide lockdown amid soaring COVID-19 infections. It begins on Monday and will last at least 10 days, possibly 20, with people allowed to leave their homes only for essential needs, like groceries, medicines or to step out for exercise. Schools are to stay open, but the government has urged parents to keep their children home if possible.

The government also announced that from February 1, all Austrians over the age of 18 will have to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, by law.

The drastic measures come amid record-high daily COVID-19 infections. Austria has one of the lowest vaccination rates in Europe, and one of the highest rates of infection.