The Austrian government announced it will impose lockdown in the country from next Monday amid a surge in coronavirus cases.

Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg announced that everyone in the country should be vaccinated by February 1. &nbsp;The Netherlands had earlier announced a partial lockdown in the country with restrictions imposed on the unvaccinated people.

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Schallenberg lamented that "enough people" haven't been convinced "despite months of persuasion". The Austrian government has allowed schools to remain open but parents have been asked to allow children to take online classes.

On Thursday, Austria recorded over 15,000 coronavirus cases as authorities continue to ramp up vaccination.

Watch: Europe's&nbsp;COVID-19 vaccination gap

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Meanwhile, neighbouring Germany continued to report a rise in cases as Chancellor Angela Merkel told authorities not to allow unvaccinated people from entering restaurants and other centres.

Reports claim Germany's vaccination rate has plummeted over the summer as health minister Jens Spahn warned that a lockdown cannot be ruled out.

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Germany's Robert Koch Institute cast doubts on the present government restrictions to combat the virus as the country battles the fourth wave of the pandemic.

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Europe continues to record a wave of COVID-19 cases as Hungary reported over 11,000 cases on Friday. The authorities in Hungary have made booster shots mandatory for health workers.

(With inputs from Agencies)

The Austrian government announced it will impose lockdown in the country from next Monday amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg announced that everyone in the country should be vaccinated by February 1.

The Austrian government announced it will impose lockdown in the country from next Monday amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg announced that everyone in the country should be vaccinated by February 1. The Netherlands had earlier announced a partial lockdown in the country with restrictions imposed on the unvaccinated people. Also Read: US Army to bar promotion, re-enlistment for soldiers who refuse to take Covid vaccine Schallenberg lamented that "enough people" haven't been convinced "despite months of persuasion". The Austrian government has allowed schools to remain open but parents have been asked to allow children to take online classes. On Thursday, Austria recorded over 15,000 coronavirus cases as authorities continue to ramp up vaccination. Watch: Europe's COVID-19 vaccination gap Meanwhile, neighbouring Germany continued to report a rise in cases as Chancellor Angela Merkel told authorities not to allow unvaccinated people from entering restaurants and other centres. Reports claim Germany's vaccination rate has plummeted over the summer as health minister Jens Spahn warned that a lockdown cannot be ruled out. Also Read: Scientists working on Covid origin notice timeline discrepancies Germany's Robert Koch Institute cast doubts on the present government restrictions to combat the virus as the country battles the fourth wave of the pandemic. Also Read: Drug overdose killed a record 100,000 in US during COVID-19 pandemic Europe continues to record a wave of COVID-19 cases as Hungary reported over 11,000 cases on Friday. The authorities in Hungary have made booster shots mandatory for health workers. (With inputs from Agencies)

Austria to impose lockdown as Europe grapples with virus surge

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today that the government will enforce a &nbsp;strict five-day <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-set-to-tighten-covid-19-curbs-emergency-declared-in-miami-beach-over-uncontrollable-crowds-372142">shutdown</a> over Easter amid a surge in coronavirus cases.

Watch:

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The announcement comes as Germany reported the national COVID-19 incidence rate reaching 107.3 cases per 100,000 people, with more than 7,700 new cases and 50 deaths.

"We are in a 'new pandemic'&nbsp;due to the virus variant,"&nbsp;Merkel said.

"The situation is serious. Case numbers are rising exponentially and intensive care beds are filling up again," the German Chancellor added.

The new measures include a shutdown of cultural, leisure and sporting facilities with shops closed for five days. The religious services will be moved online over Easter and grocers will be allowed to open on April 3, Saturday. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Merkel reached the decision after talks with regional leaders as Germany's 16 state premiers agreed on a tougher shutdown.

Health authorities had earlier warned that coronavirus case numbers were rising at a "very clearly exponential rate".&nbsp;

Germany has been experiencing a third wave with the total number of cases reaching over 2.6 million with over 74,820 fatalities.

Merkel said she supports EU chief Ursula von der Leyen's threat to block AstraZeneca vaccine export.

"I support Commission President Ursula von der Leyen," said Merkel.&nbsp;

"We have a problem with AstraZeneca," the German Chancellor said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today that the government will enforce a strict five-day shutdown over Easter amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Watch: The announcement comes as Germany reported the national COVID-19 incidence rate reaching 107.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today that the government will enforce a strict five-day shutdown over Easter amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Watch: The announcement comes as Germany reported the national COVID-19 incidence rate reaching 107.3 cases per 100,000 people, with more than 7,700 new cases and 50 deaths. "We are in a 'new pandemic' due to the virus variant," Merkel said. "The situation is serious. Case numbers are rising exponentially and intensive care beds are filling up again," the German Chancellor added. The new measures include a shutdown of cultural, leisure and sporting facilities with shops closed for five days. The religious services will be moved online over Easter and grocers will be allowed to open on April 3, Saturday. Merkel reached the decision after talks with regional leaders as Germany's 16 state premiers agreed on a tougher shutdown. Health authorities had earlier warned that coronavirus case numbers were rising at a "very clearly exponential rate". Germany has been experiencing a third wave with the total number of cases reaching over 2.6 million with over 74,820 fatalities. Merkel said she supports EU chief Ursula von der Leyen's threat to block AstraZeneca vaccine export. "I support Commission President Ursula von der Leyen," said Merkel. "We have a problem with AstraZeneca," the German Chancellor said.

'New pandemic': Germany to enforce strict five-day shutdown over Easter

Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, the German government is contemplating extending restrictions into April even as thousands of protesters angry at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-19-almost-didnt-make-it-as-a-pandemic-new-study-suggests-371868">coronavirus </a>restrictions rallied in cities across Europe over the weekend.

Watch:

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According to media reports, Germany is likely to cut travel and impose quarantines and negative tests for entering Germany amid protests against restrictions in the Germany city of Kassel on Saturday.

Authorities used water cannon on protesters in Kassel to disperse the crowds amid widespread outrage in Germany over the restrictions. The country is facing a second wave with over 2.67 million cases and over 74,700 fatalities.

There were widespread protests in &nbsp;Vienna, Sofia, Amsterdam and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/switzerland-postpones-plan-to-lift-covid-19-curbs-371885">Switzerland </a>over the weekend as demonstrators openly flouted coronavirus restrictions.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, in the United States, authorities in Miami&nbsp;beach in Florida declared a state of emergency Saturday after revellers flocked to the beach.&nbsp;

The authorities moved to closed restaurants and closed to traffic in three bridges that connects Miami beach island to mainland Miami from 10pm to 6am.&nbsp;

In London, police arrested several people after thousands turned out in the British capital to protest against the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/global-covid-19-caseload-tops-1222-million-371836">coronavirus</a> lockdown restrictions. Police said at least 36 people were arrested for breaking virus regulations.

The protesters clashed with police in central London. England has been under partial lockdown since early January when Britain witnessed a surge in infection rates, hospitalisations and deaths as the new virus variant spread.

Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, the German government is contemplating extending restrictions into April even as thousands of protesters angry at coronavirus restrictions rallied in cities across Europe over the weekend.

Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, the German government is contemplating extending restrictions into April even as thousands of protesters angry at coronavirus restrictions rallied in cities across Europe over the weekend. Watch: According to media reports, Germany is likely to cut travel and impose quarantines and negative tests for entering Germany amid protests against restrictions in the Germany city of Kassel on Saturday. Authorities used water cannon on protesters in Kassel to disperse the crowds amid widespread outrage in Germany over the restrictions. The country is facing a second wave with over 2.67 million cases and over 74,700 fatalities. There were widespread protests in Vienna, Sofia, Amsterdam and Switzerland over the weekend as demonstrators openly flouted coronavirus restrictions. Meanwhile, in the United States, authorities in Miami beach in Florida declared a state of emergency Saturday after revellers flocked to the beach. The authorities moved to closed restaurants and closed to traffic in three bridges that connects Miami beach island to mainland Miami from 10pm to 6am. In London, police arrested several people after thousands turned out in the British capital to protest against the coronavirus lockdown restrictions. Police said at least 36 people were arrested for breaking virus regulations. The protesters clashed with police in central London. England has been under partial lockdown since early January when Britain witnessed a surge in infection rates, hospitalisations and deaths as the new virus variant spread.

Germany set to tighten COVID-19 curbs; emergency declared in Miami beach over uncontrollable crowds