Upper Austria: Doubts about the lockdown for unvaccinated people

In Upper Austria, a lockdown for unvaccinated people will come into effect on Monday. The government defends the measure. But there are doubts among experts and on the streets whether the lockdown is the right step.

On Wednesday, Upper Austria’s governor Thomas Stelzer refused a lockdown for unvaccinated people. One day later, the ÖVP politician pulled the emergency brake.

The development of this wave does not allow the normal rhythm that we have known so far. That is why we will trigger the fifth level of protection prescribed by the federal government. This is the lockdown for the unvaccinated.

The plan: In Upper Austria, unvaccinated people are only allowed on the street from Monday if they want to go to work, shop or go for a walk. In any case, only those who have been vaccinated and recovered have access to catering and services throughout Austria.

Seven-day incidence at nearly 1200

The coronavirus situation is particularly tense in Upper Austria, the seven-day incidence is almost 1200, which is significantly higher than the national average. With 89 patients, the state’s intensive care unit is also at its limit. The hospitals are running out of time and urgent measures are needed, says Bernd Lamprecht, head of pulmonary medicine at the Linz University Hospital. And contact restrictions are particularly effective.

After all, hospital patients emerge from infected people and infected people from contacts. And if we want to interrupt that, the best thing we can do at the moment is to start with the contacts.

Federal Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein recommended such a lockdown for Upper Austria on Wednesday, so nothing should stand in the way of the plans.

Rather skeptical about the plan

Now it is the federal government’s turn, because there the legal basis for the lockdown has to be created and a corresponding ordinance written, which has to be approved by the main committee of the National Council.

Constitutional law expert Bernd-Christian Funk questioned the daily newspaper “Der Standard” as to whether a lockdown for unvaccinated people was proportionate and thus constitutional because it was difficult to monitor. There are also skeptical voices on the streets of Linz.

A lockdown is a very tough measure.

It may make sense, but privately I’m sad and disappointed that it will come back.

Other measures in Salzburg

The federal state of Salzburg, also a problem child with an incidence of almost 1150, is also relying on tightening. But not to a lockdown, but to an expanded mask requirement and an expansion of the 2G rules. Across Austria, the seven-day incidence is 760. 437 people have to be treated in intensive care units for Covid.

If more than 600 intensive care beds are occupied nationwide, a so-called step-by-step plan provides for a lockdown for unvaccinated persons throughout Austria. This is a very harsh measure, but apparently necessary, said Federal Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg.

We are actually following the step-by-step plan that we have a few days before we have to impose a lockdown on those who have not been vaccinated. Do we want to go there? Of course not. Is that what any of us want? Well not anyway. But we have agreed – the federal and state governments – on a clear step-by-step plan.