Europe imposes fresh measures amid Covid-19 surge

International Desk, Nov 15 (EFE).- Several European countries enforced tighter Covid-19 restrictions Monday to battle soaring infection and death rates.

Austria’s lockdown for the unvaccinated entered into force Monday. About two million citizens over the age of 12 will only be allowed to leave their homes to shop for essential goods, go outside for fresh air, visit a doctor or go to work with a negative test result.

These measures come as figures have been soaring in Austria, with authorities recording nearly 850 cases per 100,000 people over seven days.

The lockdown measures, in force until November 24, are designed to encourage people to get jabs.

Russian authorities are mulling mandatory health passes to access public spaces and transport after several weeks of the Eurasian nations reporting its highest infection and death rates.

The national Covid-19 information center Monday recorded 38,420 new cases within 24 hours, with a death toll topping 1,200 for the seventh consecutive day.

 Russian authorities blame the sharp increase in infections and deaths on the highly contagious delta variant of the virus, as well as a general lack of public compliance to health rules combined with an unwillingness to get vaccinated.

A dramatic increase in numbers of infections in Germany is putting further pressure on the negotiations to form a new coalition government.

The three parties involved are working to agree on a plan to impose a series of restrictions on those not yet vaccinated against the virus.

The plan includes making a health pass or a negative test result a requirement to access to public transport.