Austria declared a plan to make coronavirus vaccines compulsory, imposing of a fine of $4,000 imposed on unvaccinated people.
The new meaqure will apply to people aged 14 and above, and holdouts face a fine of up to 3,600 euros ($4,071) every three months.
About 68 percent of Austria’s population received full vaccination against COVID-19, one of the lowest rates in Western Europe.
Many Austrians are sceptical about vaccines, a view encouraged by the far-right Freedom Party, the third-biggest in parliament.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned in a new press statements about the Covid-19 surge in Europe.
“We express our worries about the spread of Covid-19 in Europe as the continent battles a fresh wave of infections.”
Regional director Dr Hans Kluge further said that 500,000 more deaths could be recorded by March unless urgent action is taken.
The WHO official also said an increase in mask wearing could immediately help.
The warning comes as several nations report record-high infection rates and introduce full and partial lockdowns.
Kluge said factors like winter, insufficient vaccine coverage were behind the spread.
He called for increased vaccine uptake. He also called for the implementation of basic public health measures and new medical treatments to help fight the rise.
Meanwhile, protesters took into streets in several European cities against the new restrictions and COVID-19 passes mandatory in many European countries.
