Austria locks down the unvaccinated amid a surge of COVID-19

By GEIR MOULSON
Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) — Austria has taken what its leader called the “dramatic” step of implementing a nationwide lockdown for unvaccinated people who haven’t recently had COVID-19. It’s perhaps the most drastic of a string of measures being taken by European governments to get a massive regional resurgence of the virus under control. The move, which took effect at midnight, prohibits people 12 and older who haven’t been vaccinated or recently recovered from leaving their homes except for basic activities such as working, grocery shopping, going to school — or getting vaccinated. The lockdown is initially being imposed until Nov. 24 in the Alpine country of 8.9 million but the health minister says further restrictions may be considered.