Austria announces 20-day national lockdown as COVID cases surge

Austria is to become the first country in Europe to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory by law and has announced a full national lockdown from Monday, amid a fourth wave sweeping the continent.

Report informs, citing foreign media, that Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said the coronavirus lockdown would run for a "maximum of 20 days".

He also announced it would be a "requirement to get vaccinated" from February 1.

Students will have to go back into home schooling, restaurants will be closed and cultural events will be canceled.

The country had already introduced a series of strict measures along with Germany and Slovakia in the weeks leading up to Christmas, as a debate intensifies over whether vaccines alone are enough to tackle coronavirus.

Around 66% of Austria's population is fully vaccinated, one of the lowest rates in western Europe.