Tens of thousands protested today in Vienna against compulsory Covid vaccines, home confinement orders and mandatory Covid shots. In the next few months unvaccinated Austrians are expected to face fines and restrictions.
The police said that 44,000 people participated in the protest, which included ‘no-to-vaccine fascism’ signs. It was one of many large weekends protests following the announcement by Austria last month that Covid vaccines would be mandatory.
Partially confinement for those who were fully vaccinated ends Sunday. However, anyone not receiving the recommended doses of vaccine will remain home.
Today, thousands marched through Vienna (pictured at the State Opera), protesting mandatory Covid vaccinations and home confinement orders. Unvaccinated Austrians will be punished and restricted over the next few months.
As they marched to protest against restrictions in coronavirus diseases (COVID-19), as well as the vaccination mandate, demonstrators held placards and banners.
Police arrest a man at a protest against measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic that struck Vienna, Austria on Saturday, 12/12.
Protest signs read “No to vaccine fascism”,
“I am not a neoNazi nor a hooligan,” said one, “I’m fighting against the vaccine and for freedom.”
All residents over 14 years old must be vaccinated, except for those who are granted a waiver for medical reasons.
Nobody will be vaccinated by force, the government has said, but those who refuse the shot will have to pay a initial fine of 600 euros (£510), which can then increase to 3,600 euros (£3,070) every three months if not settled.
Fines will be calculated taking into consideration income, financial obligations and assets.
About 68 percent in Austria are fully immunized against COVID-19. This is one of the lowest rates of vaccinations across western Europe.
Austrians have a lot of doubts about vaccinations. This is encouraged by Freedom Party, which is the third largest party in parliament.
Manuela (47) said that she had traveled from outside of town to protest.
Why is it necessary to ‘exclude those who have not been vaccinated’, particularly children? I asked the mother-of-three, who confirmed that she was vaccinated and refused to disclose her surname.
“It is an incredible act of discrimination to not be able send a child to swimming, tennis or dancing lessons.
Pictured during Saturday’s protests in Austria, anti-vaccine signs were held by demonstrators. The demonstration was attended by 44,000 persons, according to police. It is the latest of a series of large weekend demonstrations that have taken place since Austria declared last month it will make Covid vaccines compulsory.
For those fully vaccinated on Sunday, a partial confinement will end. Those who are not fully vaccinated will remain home. Pictured: Police officers stand in front of a demonstration against measures to battle the coronavirus pandemic in Vienna on Saturday
Protestors hold placards and flags while marching to protest the restrictions on coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and the mandate for vaccines in Vienna, Austria. December 11.
Pictured is a flag being raised and a skeleton attached. Sign reads, ‘I was vaccinated until death.’ The evidence is incontestable that Covid-19 vaccines cause death.
Analea (a 44-year old violin teacher) said that this wasn’t the right direction for democracy.
She said, “We can all have our own opinions and values but live in peace.”
On Saturday, a flurry was of organizations called for demonstrations. This included the Freedom Party (FPOe) led by Herbert Kickl.
The country’s conservative-led government on Thursday announced the details of its plan to make coronavirus vaccines compulsory.
Unvaccinated persons will be notified by authorities every 3 months to remind them to get their vaccines or see a doctor who can certify that they are eligible for an exemption.
Fines may be levied if they do not comply after three months. After a person has provided proof of their vaccination, proceedings will be dismissed.
Karoline Edtstadler, Cabinet minister for constitutional matters, stated, “We still need an obligation and have a need to improve vaccination coverage so that it doesn’t go from lockdown one to lockdown, next Year as well,”
“There are well over one million Austrians still not vaccinated.” That is too many,’ she added, speaking during a new conference with Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein.
“I want to make it clear, we are not going to be punishing those people who don’t have their vaccines. We would like to have them come with us, convince them about the vaccination, and ask them to stand by everyone else so we can regain freedom.
All Austians over 14 years old must be vaccinated, except for those who are granted a medical exemption. Pictured: People take part in a demonstration against measures to battle the coronavirus pandemic in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, December 11, 2021
Pictured: Man in hazmat suits and chains wrapped around his neck holding a sign that reads: “You won’t hurt us.”
Protestors light flares in protest against the measures taken to combat the coronavirus pandemic that struck Vienna (Austria) on Saturday, December 11, 2021
Martin Rutter, an Austrian anti-Corona activist, speaks at a protest against the measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The demonstration was held in Vienna, Austria on Saturday, December 11, 2021
On December 11, police officers walked during the demonstration in Vienna against compulsory vaccination and restrictions on anti-Covid.
Parliament must approve the vaccine mandate. It is scheduled to take effect in February and run through January 2024. It is supported by two opposition parties, which suggests it will be passed easily.
Mueckstein explained that quarterly vaccine deadlines will apply. Furthermore, authorities will inspect a central vaccination registry to ensure all the necessary information is correct.
“If this is not the situation, we will bring proceedings. Mueckstein explained that the average fine for regular proceedings amounts to 3,600 euros. However, he added that fines will be determined based on one’s ability to pay.
“An alternative to the mandatory vaccination, authorities may impose a penalty in a shorter proceeding immediately following the deadline.
“Here is the sum of the fine, it’s 600 euros,” he stated, noting that regular proceedings would be initiated if the fine was not paid.
Austria’s November 19 announcement that they would establish a mandatory general vaccine was followed by a government decision to close down the country due to a rising number of cases.
During the lockdown, there has been a decline in seven-day infections. On Thursday, it was 432.6 cases per 100,000 people, down more than 1,000 from the start of the lockdown.
Austria’s government announced on Wednesday that it would let a wide range of businesses, from non-essential shops to theatres, restaurants and hairdressers reopen when its COVID-19 lockdown ends on Sunday, but many regions will open up more cautiously.
The fourth national coronavirus-related disease (COVID-19), lockdown took place in Salzburg, Austria on December 8th, 2021. The lockdown in Austria, announced last month, will end Sunday following the fall of cases.
Many people queue up to be vaccinated against COVID-19 during a second-day lockdown. The lockdown was held in Vienna (Austria), Nov. 23-2021. Austria has a low rate of COVID-19 vaccinations, with only 68 percent being fully covered. Many Austrians remain skeptical about vaccinations. This view is encouraged by far-right Freedom Party (the third largest in parliament).
Karl Nehammer is the new Austrian chancellor. He speaks during a conference on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 about his plans and actions for the coming weeks in Vienna.
This means that the country’s existing rules will be replaced by a network of nine provincial laws.
The confusion was further exacerbated by the fact that the west provinces of Vorarlberg (and Tyrol) have the fourth and highest infection rates respectively.
“Some (provinces), will gradually act over time and Burgenland, Vorarlberg, and Tyrol (immediately), adopt this federal arrangement,” Tyrol’s governor Guenther Plateter said at a joint press conference with Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein and Chancellor Karl Nehammer.
Tyrol and Vorarlberg are two Alpine provinces heavily dependent on winter tourism. While hotels across Austria are closed during lockdown for tourists, ski lifts can be used.
Austria was placed in lockdown for two weeks to stop a record number of coronavirus infection daily.
While infections are down, the number of intensive-care beds is rising.
When the lockdown was first introduced, the government promised that it would not last more than twenty days. This promise has been kept until Sunday.
If local authorities are not imposing tighter restrictions on businesses, the list of those that may reopen can be found below. Upper Austria is the province that has long held Austria’s highest infectivity rate. It borders Germany and Czech Republic. Upper Austria plans to remain locked down until December 17.
Vienna won’t allow cafes or restaurants to fully reopen for a week after their national lockdown lifts. However, non-essential shops will reopen on Monday. Austrian media stated that the three remaining provinces would follow suit, allowing restaurants and hotels to reopen only on Friday December 17.