Austria Authorizes , Strict Vaccine Mandate.<br />Austria Authorizes , Strict Vaccine Mandate.<br />CNN reports Austria has become the first country in the European Union to authorize a nationwide COVID-19 vaccine mandate.<br />The new mandate will reportedly fine citizens up to 600 euros for being unvaccinated.<br />The mandate was signed into law by <br />President Alexander Van der Bellen. <br />It will be in effect until January 31, 2024.<br />According to the Austrian Health Ministry, pregnant people, those who can't <br />receive a vaccine for health reasons.<br />and those who have caught COVID-19 <br />in the last 180 days are exempt <br />from financial penalties.<br />According to the European Centre <br />for Disease Prevention and Control, <br />72.7% of Austrians have received <br />vaccination against the coronavirus.<br />According to CNN, as Austria tightens its COVID-19 protocols, other European countries have started to relax their restrictions.<br />Denmark, bolstering a vaccination <br />rate of 81.5%, lifted all of its coronavirus <br />restrictions on January 1.<br />Low hospitalizations and a high rate of vaccinations have led Norway, Sweden and Finland... .<br />Low hospitalizations and a high rate of vaccinations have led Norway, Sweden and Finland... .<br />... to also lift many of <br />their coronavirus safety measures
