NEWSWATCH: Largest protest in Austrian history sees 350,000 march against COVID restrictions
(westernstandardonline.com)
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Close to 350,000 people took to the streets in Vienna, Austria this weekend to protest some of the most Draconian COVID-19 restrictions in the world.
Austria was the first country to announce mandatory vaccinations for all citizens 14-years-old and up.
This week it was announced the mandate comes into effect February 1 and will cost the unvaccinated up to 3,600 euros ($5,200 CAD) every three months.
VIENNA PROTEST In mid-November, officials locked down the country for a fourth time since the start of the pandemic amid rising COVID-19 cases across Europe. Tens of thousands of Austrians protested the lockdown measures and the announcement of the vaccine mandate.
Job listings have been posted in the Austrian city of Linz to staff positions that will handle the administration of fining people — some on social media referencing these hirings as those tasked to “hunt” the unvaccinated.
A government bill is also in the works to ban demonstrations near hospitals to protect healthcare workers.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner told Bloomberg reporters Wednesday the bill may impose curbs on protests to avoid disruptions in access to healthcare.
Unvaccinated Austrians are already barred from most social situations including non-essential shopping, hotels and restaurants must submit to regular testing to go to work.
The current vaccination rate in Austria’s eligible population is 74%, up from 72% reported after the first week of December, according to covidvax.live. A Gallup survey published by the APA news service on Wednesday showed 59% of Austrians support making vaccines mandatory.
The Local, an Austrian news site, reported Austrian’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he’s open to offering the unvaccinated bonuses before the vaccines become mandatory.
“Everything that helps us to get more people to vaccinate before the vaccination is actually mandated … sends a positive signal for our society,” Nehammer said.
According to the most recent data out of Austria, COVID-19 infections are on a sharp decline.
It was also dramatic scenes Sunday in Amsterdam as police clashed with protesters.