Coronavirus: Thread

[grarpamp]

Days Into Lockdown For The Unvaccinated, Austria COVID Cases Hit Record High

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/austrian-covid-cases-hit-record-third-day-lockdown-unvaccinated-2021-11-17/
https://twitter.com/richimedhurst/status/1460724538480775169
https://twitter.com/MaxBlumenthal/status/1460474753119043585
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/08/20/1029628471/highly-vaccinated-israel-is-seeing-a-dramatic-surge-in-new-covid-cases-heres-why

As the debate rages over the effectiveness of lockdowns in combatting
the spread of Covid-19, Austria is experiencing its biggest surge to
date, hitting a record high number of confirmed infections three days
into its government-imposed total 'quarantine for the unvaccinated'.

Daily infections surpassed 14,000 for the first time since the start
of the pandemic. On Wednesday health authorities recorded 14,416 new
infections, a fresh record, according to Reuters.

This is compared to the peak from a year ago of just under 10,000
daily infections.
"Papers please!" Austrian police check citizens' vaccination status,
Getty Images

Austria has recently reported that about 65% of its population is now
fully vaccinated. At the start of this week the government enacted a
ban on any unvaccinated person going outside their home for reasons
other than getting food, going to work, or attending health
appointments - and even then they are subject to testing.

In recent days images and footage have emerged of police literally
patrolling streets and department stores asking random citizens for
proof of vaccination. Those under the stay at home order number at
least a couple million unvaccinated Austrians.

Reuters details that despite being days in to the draconian lockdown
measures, hospitals in many regions are at capacity:

    The situation is worst in two of Austria's nine provinces, Upper
Austria and Salzburg, where hospitals are coming under increasing
strain. Salzburg has said it is preparing for a triage situation when
the number of people needing intensive care beds exceeds supply,
though that stage has not yet been reached.

    Austrian police demand people show proof of vaccination as they
shop in one of Vienna’s busiest shopping streets Mariahilferstraße
pic.twitter.com/Rs6Fu4gX6S
    — Richard Medhurst (@richimedhurst) November 16, 2021

It remains to be seen whether the Austrian government's plan to
essentially "punish" the unvaccinated will actually allay the rapidly
rising case numbers. As we previously detailed based on disturbing
emerging videos of police in action:

    Those caught outside without proof of vaccination face fines of up
to $1,660.

    Last week, Austria’s Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said the
lockdown was designed to make the unvaccinated “suffer” as everyone
else had done during earlier lockdowns.

    Whether these draconian patrols will continue remains to be seen.

    Austrian police hunt for The Unvaccinated, who have been confined
to their homes and face fines of $1660 for being in public (except
when working).

    And the human rights industry, the EU, US and much of the int’l
left are silent, if not quietly approving. pic.twitter.com/Wc26Eh09EC
    — Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) November 16, 2021

Recall too that Israel was early on among the "most vaxxed nations",
and yet this summer the country experienced a huge surge as the Delta
variant spread.

Israel even had 'Covid green passes' - or what amounted to a "vaccine
passport" to control the movements of the populace, particularly the
unvaxxed, which similar to Austria now were barred from restaurants,
hotels, and other public venues.