Austria’s lockdown for people who are not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will end on Monday (31) as pressure on hospitals eased, the government said on Wednesday.
Daily new coronavirus infections are on the rise, driven by the extremely contagious Omicron variant.
Cases hit a new record above 30,000 on Wednesday, Austrian Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein told a news conference, adding that infections are expected to peak at around 35,000 to 40,000 in the next two weeks. .
The occupancy rate of hospital and intensive care beds, however, has been falling.
“We have come to the conclusion that the lockdown for unvaccinated people in Austria is only justifiable in the event of the threat of an imminent overload of intensive care capacity,” said Mueckstein, adding that experts no longer consider the measure necessary.
Since November 15, those who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 in the country have been under lockdown, only being able to leave the house for a limited number of reasons, such as shopping for essentials or working. The measure, which was suspended at Christmas, has been criticized for its difficulty in application.
Despite the end of the mobility restriction, those who have not been vaccinated will still be unable to participate in a number of leisure activities, such as eating in restaurants or buying non-essential items. The move is part of the Austrian government’s efforts to increase the vaccination rate, which is among the lowest in Western Europe.
Reference: CNN Brasil
