Austria announced that it will extend the lockdown until Jan. It will take strict measures including keeping restaurants and non-essential stores shut until Jan. 24, APA reported Today.
The move came after the decision of Austria's opposition parties blocked a draft law that would have allowed an early exit from lockdown for anyone producing a negative test for the coronavirus.
The draft law would have allowed those with a negative coronavirus test to attend cultural or sport events, buy non-essential goods and get their hair cut, a week before the official end of the lockdown on Jan. 24.
Earlier in November, Austria headed toward a second national lockdown for at least two and a half weeks over fears of a new coronavirus outbreak.
According to latest figures, the country has recorded more than 191,000 cases since the start of the pandemic, and 1,661 Covid-related deaths.
Austria had its first nationwide lockdown in March, during the first wave of the pandemic.Countries across Europe are experiencing a jump in coronavirus cases.
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