Austria and Netherlands set out stringent curbs to control Covid-19

Austria has unveiled contentious plans to impose strict coronavirus curbs on the unvaccinated and the Netherlands is imposing another nationwide lockdown, becoming the first western EU nation to restore sweeping restrictions since the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines, as countries across Europe rush to contain surging infections.

Austria’s chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said on Friday the federal government was seeking a nationwide lockdown for those who have not been jabbed, to apply from Monday.

The measures were needed to protect the rights of those who had been vaccinated or recovered from the virus, Schallenberg told reporters earlier. “I don’t see why two-thirds of the population should lose their freedom because another third hesitates,” he said.

More than 33 per cent of Austrians have yet to have a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine — one of the lowest rates in the EU — public health data show.

In the Netherlands, non-essential shops, entertainment venues including bars and restaurants, and close-contact services such as hairdressers will be forced to shut by 6pm from Saturday, with essential shops like supermarkets closing at 8pm.

Other measures will include teleworking for all sectors where possible, a limit of four guests per household, no spectators at sporting events and the reimposition of 1.5m social distancing in public spaces.

Mark Rutte, caretaker prime minister, called the restrictions a “hard blow” at a press conference on Friday evening. “We have an unpleasant message tonight. Fortunately, the vast majority of people in our country have now been vaccinated. Otherwise the misery in the hospitals would be incalculable. But the pressure in healthcare is still extremely high”, he said.

The Netherlands public health authority recorded 16,287 new Covid-19 cases on Friday — 44 lower than the previous day, when the toll was the highest recorded since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Austria this week recorded its highest infection numbers of the entire pandemic, with a rolling seven-day average of 9,593 daily infections reached on Thursday. The previous high, almost exactly a year ago, was 7,464.

Austrian state governors will meet federal government officials on Sunday to thrash out details of the proposed lockdown.

Despite Schallenberg’s call, the consensus between states is far from clear. Upper Austria and Salzburg have said they will enforce strict measures regardless of what is decided on Sunday, but other state governors have been more equivocal. Any new measures are likely to meet legal challenges.

Unvaccinated people are already banned from Austria’s restaurants, bars and entertainment venues.

Officials in the chancellery said measures would almost certainly mirror the harsh lockdown restrictions in Austria during autumn last year and spring. If so, unvaccinated people will be able to leave their homes only once a day for a short period for “essential” reasons, such as buying food.

Police would be deployed to conduct spot checks in public places to check people’s vaccination status, the interior ministry said. Rule breakers would face hefty fines.

Germany on Friday added Austria to its list of “high-risk” countries, caretaker health minister Jens Spahn said. Under that classification, anyone entering Germany from Austria who has not been vaccinated or recovered from the virus must quarantine for 10 days.

Friday’s announcements sparked a swift backlash in both countries. Herbert Kickl, leader of Austria’s far-right Freedom party — which won a quarter of votes in the 2019 federal elections — accused the government of “corona fascism” and said “all forms of resistance . . . are now needed”. 

In the Netherlands, protesters threw stones and fireworks in The Hague, with police dispersing crowds with water cannons.

Other EU countries are also seeking to tighten coronavirus curbs. Authorities in Germany proposed tougher measures as the seven-day incidence rate — which reached 263 people per 100,000 — hit a historic high for the fifth consecutive day.

Spahn called for access to public events to be restricted to the vaccinated or recovered and for all to be tested before entry. The Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s main public health authority, called for a cut in the numbers allowed into large events or for them to be cancelled, and for some bars and clubs to be closed.

In Latvia, from Monday, lawmakers in the national parliament and all municipal councils will be able to work and be paid only if they have been jabbed or are recovering from a Covid-19 infection. The Baltic country had the world’s highest number of coronavirus cases per capita last month.

Additional reporting by Erika Solomon in Berlin and Richard Milne, Nordic and Baltic Correspondent