Around 65% of Austria's almost nine million people are vaccinated, below the EU average of 67%, while daily increases in infections have hit records this week.
VIENNA - Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said Sunday that a nationwide lockdown would begin Monday for those not vaccinated against Covid-19 or recently recovered, as the EU member fights a record surge in cases.
The lockdown means people over 12 who are neither vaccinated nor recently recovered will not be allowed to leave the house except for reasons such as buying essential supplies, exercise or seeking medical care. Parliament -- controlled by Schallenberg's conservative-Green coalition -- is expected to approve the measure later Sunday.Also from Monday, Vienna is becoming the first region in the EU to offer jabs to children from the age of five to 11 at a vaccination centre in the capital.
The European Medicines Agency has not yet issued an authorisation for any of the vaccines to be used for this age group ,though member states have the right to do so in a public health emergency.
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