COVID: Austria enters nationwide lockdown

Austrians entered the first day of a nationwide lockdown on Monday.

Austria has struggled with rising COVID infections, with average daily deaths tripling in recent weeks. Hospital care units also warned they were reaching maximum capacity. Around 66% of Austria's population has been vaccinated so far. The government had earlier imposed a lockdown for the unvaccinated only, but cases continued to rise.

The lockdown will last for at least 10 days, and could be extended to 20, according to officials. People are not allowed to leave their homes during the lockdown period, except to go to work, get groceries, or exercise. Restaurants can only provide food to take away. Sports stadiums will stay empty. Schools remain open but parents can opt to keep their children at home.

Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg also announced mandatory vaccination for citizens beginning February 2022, becoming the first European country to impose the rule. Schallenberg said details were yet to be hammered out but that people who did not get vaccinated would likely face fines.

The decisions prompted a fierce backlash, with thousands of people taking to the streets of the Austrian capital city, Vienna, over the weekend.

Similar protests against COVID curbs also erupted across severalEuropean countries, like the Netherlands and Belgium, this weekend.

Here are the latest major developments on coronavirus from around the world:

Europe

Germany reported 30,643 new infections and 62 deaths on Monday, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute, the country's public health authority. The seven-day incidence rate hit a fresh high of 386 new infections per 100,000 people per week.

Although there isn't a nationwide lockdown in place, most states have imposed some restrictions, such as stopping unvaccinated people or those who cannot prove they have instead recovered from COVID from attending public events and some stores.

The two worst-hit states at present, Bavaria and Saxony, are imposing new restrictions this week. In Saxony, cultural and recreational facilities, bars, clubs and Christmas markets will be shut for three weeks, while tourist overnight stays are not permitted in hotels and guest houses. Restaurant opening hours will be restricted. In Bavaria, starting Wednesday, contact limits will go into force for the unvaccinated, pubs and clubs will close for three weeks and Christmas markets are not planned. Sporting and cultural events will be allowed to accommodate spectators, but in limited numbers.

Virologist Hendrik Streeck on Monday told DW he disagreed with recent comments by German Health Minister Jens Spahn, who suggested, "As is sometimes cynically said, by the end of this winter pretty much everyone in Germany ... will have been vaccinated, recovered or died."

Streeck said "While I agree that the situation is serious right now ... I don't agree with the sentence that everyone after this fall or winter 'will be either vaccinated, recovered or dead,' because that would mean that everyone will get in touch with the virus this winter."  

Still Streeck noted, however, "If we don't get a higher rate of vaccination, we will have it next winter and next fall again." Health Minister Spahn on Monday told Germans not to be picky about which vaccine they received, noting that the most important thing is to get vaccinated.

In the Netherlands, Prime Minister Mark Rutte condemned anti-government protesters railing against coronavirus safety measures as "idiots" engaged in "pure violence" during three days of violent clashes with police this weekend.

The violence emanating from the anti-vax protesters in the Netherlands has gotten so bad that television stations have begun removing logos from vehicles in an effort to protect employees from attack. Some 82% of reporters polled by the Dutch journalists association NVJ say they have been the victim of aggression and physical threats this year — up 20% over 2017.

In Neighboring Belgium, Prime Minister Alexander de Croo condemned violence at a large anti-corona measure protest in Brussels this weekend as "absolutely unacceptable."

In France, Prime Minister Jean Castex tested positive for Covid-19 Monday evening. The politician will reportedly self-isolate for 10 days but continue to work. Representatives from Castex's office say he "immediately carried out a PCR test" after finding out one of his daughters had tested positive.

News of Castex's infection also forced Belgian Prime Minister De Croo and four of his ministers into quarantine Monday hours after they attended a meeting with Castex and senior French officials. 

In the Czech Republic, protesters rallied against government health measures at a large gathering in the capital Prague. Several hundred people gathered at the event to demand "Freedom!" for the unvaccinated, who are now no longer allowed entry to public events, bars, restaurants, hairdressers' shops, museums or hotels.

Asia-Pacific

Australia announced on Monday it was reopening borders for students and some visa holders, as well as Japanese and Korean citizens, from December 1. It reopened borders last month for Australians only, putting thousands of people who chose to leave the country in limbo if they wished to return.

It is not clear when tourists are allowed to visit for leisure.

Singapore's relaxation of some COVID rules went into force Monday. Vaccinated people, for example, can meet in larger groups of five, up from two at a time. However, other protocols like requiring people to wear masks in public spaces remain.

Caribbean

French security forces arrived in Guadeloupe on Monday, after a week of unrest over Covid-19 safety measures on the French overseas territory. Protests, clashes and looting have plagued the island since vaccines were deemed mandatory for healthcare workers.

 "We will not give in to lies, distorting of information and the exploitation by some people of this situation," French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday, calling the situation in Guadeloupe "very explosive." A dusk-to-dawn curfew from 6:00 pm to 5:00 am will remain in place until at least Tuesday.

Middle East

Israel — where 57% of adults are fully vaccinated — began inoculating children ages 5-to-11 on Monday. The campaign will offer children Pfizer/BioNtech vaccinations to young people amid fears that rising infection rates could soon explode after the country's fourth wave of infections had ebbed in September.

North America

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday issued a warning against travel to Germany and Denmark due to rising coronavirus infection rates in both countries.

The Disney corporation has temporarily halted a policy requiring its employees in Florida to be vaccinated. The company informed workers via memo that the move was in response to new Florida state legislature making it unlawful for companies to require employees get the jab. Disney also sited a Florida appeals court's hold on federal vaccination guidelines as part of its reasoning. 

"We believe that our approach to mandatory vaccines has been the right one as we've continued to focus on the safety and well-being of our Cast Members and Guests, and at this point, more than 90 percent of active Florida-based Cast Members have already verified that they are fully vaccinated. We will address legal developments as appropriate," read a statement released by the company on Monday. Florida is one of a number of Republican-led states that are fighting federal vaccine mandates.

js,rm/msh (Reuters, AP)