In its latest travel update, Austria has removed all lockdown restrictions for those who are fully vaccinated, amid the current Omicron scare that has gripped the world. By Anushka Goel
On Sunday, Austria ended its lockdown restrictions for the fully vaccinated across most of the country, reports Mint. This comes three weeks after a strict lockdown was reimposed across the country to combat the rising number of COVID-19 cases.
Austria ends lockdown
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At a press conference last week, Chancellor Karl Neuhammer had announced updated COVID-19 measures, which came into effect at midnight on Saturday, December 11, reports The Local. An important point to note is that while Austria ends lockdown for the most part, with many businesses being allowed to operate, a strict lockdown will remain in place for the unvaccinated.
Mint reports that among the places allowed to reopen are theatres, museums, and other cultural and entertainment venues. Some regions of the country are also reopening restaurants and hotels, while the others will wait till the end of the month to do so.
Calling the action an “opening with a seatbelt,” the Chancellor said that the government has permitted Austria‘s nine regions to tighten (or reduce) restrictions as per the COVID-19 situations in the respective areas. However, those unvaccinated will continue to face curbs on movement and more to reduce the spread of the infection, state media reports.
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Lockdowns have largely proven effective across the world to curb the spread of COVID-19, and now, with the threat of the Omicron variant looming large, several nations have introduced fresh restrictions on travel or have shut their international borders.
India, for example, has delayed the resumption of regular international flights, allowing only its air bubble arrangements to operate, while some countries have put a halt on flights to and from South Africa, where the virus was identified.
Related: India Postpones Resumption Of International Flights As Omicron Spreads To 22 Countries