BERLIN, Nov 18 (Reuters) — Germany will limit large parts of public life in areas where hospitals are becoming dangerously full of COVID-19 patients to those who have either been vaccinated or have recovered from the illness, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday.
The move is necessary to tackle a «very worrying» fourth wave of the pandemic that is overburdening hospitals, she said.
In places where hospitalisation rates exceed a certain threshold, access to public, cultural and sports events and to restaurants will be restricted to those who have been vaccinated or who have recovered.
The move is necessary to tackle a «very worrying» fourth wave of the pandemic that is overburdening hospitals, she said.
Austria
This week Austria imposed a lockdown for the unvaccinated and other European countries have also imposed restrictions.
About two million people who have not been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 have been placed in lockdown in Austria as the country faces a surge in cases.
Unvaccinated people are only allowed to leave home for limited reasons, like working or buying food.
Children under the age of 12 and people who have recently recovered from the virus will be exempt.
About 65% of Austria’s population is fully vaccinated — one of the lowest rates in Western Europe.
Meanwhile, the seven-day infection rate is more than 800 cases per 100,000 people, which is one of the highest in the region.
The government says police will carry out spot checks in public spaces to determine the vaccination status of individuals, and issue fines to those caught breaking the rules.
Austria’s health ministry says anyone who violates the lockdown for the unvaccinated could be fined €500 (£426; $572), while a penalty of €1,450 could be incurred for refusing to participate in checks.
The measures introduced in Austria on Monday, which come amid growing pressure on the nation’s hospitals, will initially last for 10 days.
In the Netherlands, lockdown- measures have been imposed to limit social contacts in response to a sharp increase in infections.
The measures include early closing for restaurants and shops, and barring spectators from sporting events.
About 84% of Dutch adults have been fully vaccinated.
Most patients in Dutch hospitals have not had their jab.
Russia
In Russia, only about 35% of the population has been fully vaccinated/
At the end of October, Moscow shut shops, restaurants and schools in a partial lockdown and workers were given nine days paid holiday to curb infections.
Some other countries are also introducing measures applying only to the unvaccinated.
Last Updated on 18.11.2021 by iskova