COVID-19 coronavirus in Austria

Main article: Coronavirus COVID-19

2022: Mandatory coronavirus vaccination approved in Austria

On January 20, 2022, the Austrian parliament passed a bill according to which all adult residents of the country will have to undergo vaccination against coronavirus (COVID-19) infection from the beginning of February 2022. The mandate applies only to adults and provides exceptions for pregnant women and those who have medical evidence that does not allow them to be vaccinated.

This move makes Austria the first European Union country to adopt a vaccination mandate, despite the fact that tens of thousands of angry citizens continue to protest against such measures throughout Europe. The law received wide support in parliament, and only extreme right-wing lawmakers voted against it with a score of 137-33. After the introductory stage, which will end in mid-March 2022, those who refuse to get vaccinated face a fine of up to $4 thousand.

In Austria, approved mandatory vaccination against coronavirus

The leader of the far-right Austrian Freedom Party, Herbert Kickl, who is also trying to attract voters from among those who are skeptical of vaccines against coronavirus infection (COVID-19), opposed the law. During the parliamentary debate, Kickl said that this law paves the way for totalitarianism in Austria, and also that he will continue to personally refuse vaccination against COVID-19.

On January 19, 2022, the Austrian government announced the creation of security zones around medical facilities and vaccination centers against COVID-19, as well as the fact that the police will drive away everyone who creates problems, including demonstrators. Austria joined Ecuador, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Indonesia and Micronesia as the only countries in the world to have accepted a vaccination mandate.

By January 2022, in Austria, which has a population of about 9 million people, almost 14 thousand deaths related to COVID-19 and 1.5 million cases of infection have occurred since the beginning of the pandemic. Approximately 70% of the population is fully vaccinated. ^[1]

2021: Introduction of fines up to 7.2 thousand euros for refusal to vaccinate against COVID-19

At the end of November 2021, it became known about the introduction Austria of large fines for refusing to vaccinate against coronavirus. COVID-19 The corresponding law will enter into force in February 2022 and will be valid for three years.

According to the publication Kronen Zeitung with reference to the corresponding document, in the case of the first refusal of vaccination from COVID-19, residents of Austria will be called to the district administrative authority. If a person ignores this invitation, then in four weeks he will be called again. On the third refusal of vaccination, a person faces a fine of €3.6 thousand or imprisonment for four weeks. With subsequent refusals, the fine may increase to €7.2 thousand.

The fine will not apply to people who are at risk to life and health due to vaccination, as well as pregnant women and adolescents under 12 years old.

In Austria, they begin to fine 7.2 thousand euros for refusing to vaccinate against coronavirus

On November 16, 2021, Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg announced the introduction of a full lockdown in the country and a plan to introduce mandatory vaccination against coronavirus from February 1, 2022.

During the lockdown, sports, cultural and entertainment events will be canceled throughout Austria, cafes, restaurants and shops will be closed, except for those selling essential goods.

It is recommended that companies relocate employees to remote work, and in closed rooms it will be necessary to wear masks with a high degree of FFP2 class protection, including in workplaces.

Economy Minister Margaret Schrambock, commenting on the lockdown, said that residents of the country should be ashamed because Austria lags behind neighboring countries in terms of vaccination rates.

According to Hopkins University, from the beginning of the pandemic to the end of November 2021, 1,151,809 cases of coronavirus were detected in Austria. 12,425 people died. In this country, vaccinations are made with the drugs BioNTech, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna.^[2]

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