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In response to rising coronavirus cases, the northern province of the Alpine nation is planning an unvaccinated-only stay-at-home order, with a national measure possible if it succeeds.

To fight the rise in Covid-19 infections, Austria‘s government has placed roughly two million of its unvaccinated citizens under rigorous lockdown as of Monday.

“We are not taking this move lightly, but it is unfortunately unavoidable,” Austrian chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said when the new legislation was announced on Sunday.

The coronavirus is fully immunized in approximately 65 percent of Austria’s population. However, this is one of Western Europe’s lowest rates.

“In reality, we have told one-third of the population: you will not leave your apartment anymore apart from for certain reasons. That is a massive reduction in contacts between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated,” said Mr Schallenberg.

Citizens will be exposed to police checks and fines of up to € 1,450 (£ 1237) for violations, according to interior minister Karl Nehammer. The police have been ordered to conduct immunization checks on the public.