VIDEO: They want freedom, not lockdown and vaccinations. 30,000 Austrians protested in Vienna – TVNOVINY.sk

About 30,000 people took part in protests against the new government measures to fight the coronavirus in Vienna on Saturday, the DPA agency reported, referring to updated estimates by the Austrian police.

The marchers disrupted traffic throughout the center of Vienna and made several arrests. According to media reports, some participants threw bottles at the police. “The atmosphere is strained,” a police spokesman said.

After a record number of new cases of coronavirus infection, Austria will introduce a comprehensive lockdown, which will start on Monday and will cover both vaccinated and non-vaccinated citizens. Alexander Schallenberg, Chancellor, announced this on Friday morning. The lockdown will last a maximum of 20 days with a reassessment of the situation after ten days.

Protest against the lockdown in Vienna. Photo: TV Awning

At the same time, the Austrian government announced that from February 1, 2022, the obligation to be vaccinated against COVID-19 for all residents would apply in the country. Vaccination with the third dose will be possible after four months.

According to Reuters, Austria will be the first country in Western Europe to reintroduce a full closure this autumn in order to face a new wave of the pandemic, and it will also be the first country to order its entire population to be vaccinated.
Vaccination rates in Austria are among the lowest in Western Europe – about 66 percent of the population is fully vaccinated.

In recent days, the country has reported more than 10,000 new cases per day. Hospitals are currently facing an influx of patients and the number of victims continues to rise.