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Austria has returned to a full - fourth - national lockdown as protests against new restrictions aimed at curbing Covid-19 infections. Across many part of Europe infection rates have risen sharply prompting warnings from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Austrian lockdown comes just days after an announcement of a compulsory vaccination drive 鈥� to take effect in February - and restrictions on those unvaccinated. Newsday heard from Tanja Malle - a journalist with ORF Austrian public radio.

鈥淢ost of the public do understand that a fourth lockdown is needed. The protests were not only about the lockdown but also against mandatory vaccination again Covid-19.鈥�

Rates of vaccination 鈥渁re kind of low compared to western Europe. Overall in Austria 66% of the population (are) vaccinated. Now we are witnessing overburdened ICUs (intensive care units) and some hospitals in some provinces that are postponing heart or cancer surgeries already.鈥�

(Pic: Abandoned tables of a closed restaurant amid a fourth Covid lockdown in Vienna, Austria; Credit: Reuters)

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