In an effort to protect an already overburdened health care system, governments are enacting regulations that limit options for those who are not vaccinated, something governments hope will boost vaccination rates.
In this episode, on Friday, Austria has made vaccination mandatory from February 1. Here Chancellor Alexander Schalenberg described this move as the only way to break the vicious cycle of virus waves.
Austria is the only country in the European Union to make vaccination mandatory, but the governments of many countries are imposing restrictions.
Slovakia banned all non-essential goods shops and shopping malls from people who have not received anti-Covid vaccines. Such people will not be able to go to public events and they will have to get checked twice to go to work.
Prime Minister Eduard Hager described these measures as a “lockdown for those who did not get vaccinated”.
Of Slovakia’s population of 5.5 million, only 45.3% have been fully immunized. A record 8,342 new cases were reported here on Tuesday.
It is not only the countries of Central and Eastern Europe that are facing the outbreak of the virus, but the rich countries of the West are also affected by the virus and are once again imposing restrictions.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday, “Now is the time to act.”
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced new restrictions on Thursday for those who have not been vaccinated, according to which such people will not be able to go to bars, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, museums and gyms even if they are not tested positive.
Ten thousand people demonstrated in Prague this week against restrictions imposed on people who do not get vaccinated in the Czech Republic.
AP Mansi Prashant
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