Austria lifts restrictions for vaccinated

Austria has lifted its COVID-19 lockdown restrictions for vaccinated residents after three weeks, The Associated Press reported.

The lifting of restrictions will allow vaccinated residents to attend movie theaters, museums, and other cultural and entertainment venues starting Sunday.

Local shops will reopen on Monday, according to AP.

Some regions in the country are reopening restaurants and hotels while other establishments will later this month.

Restaurants will also follow 11 p.m curfews and a mask mandate will be imposed on public transportation, inside stores, and public spaces according to the new rules, The AP reported.

Austrian chancellor Karl Nehammer said nine of the country's regions will have the opportunity to loosen or tighten restrictions based on their own situation.

Sixty-seven percent of residents are fully vaccinated against the virus, which is relatively low for a Western European country.

Unvaccinated residents will still have to follow lockdown stay-at-home restrictions.

Austria's government has introduced new measures that will put pressure on unvaccinated residents to get the shot, including a nationwide vaccine mandate that will go and effect in February for residents age 14 and older, the AP noted.