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Austria to go into full lockdown over Covid from next week

The Independent reported that Austria will go into a full lockdown over Covid from next week, becoming the first country in western Europe to take this measure during the latest wave of the virus.
The government also said vaccinations will be compulsory for the whole population from next February.
Under the new measures, the whole population will be sent into lockdown for at least 10 days, although this could be extended, the Austrian chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said.
It comes days after the country sent around two million unvaccinated people into lockdown, telling them they had to stay at home unless it was for a list of reasons including going shopping or to work.
Despite this, Covid cases have continued to soar.

Mr Schallenberg told a news conference as he announced the new measures: “We have not succeeded in convincing enough people to get vaccinated."
“It hurts that such measures still have to be taken.”
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Around two-thirds of Austria‘s population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, one of the lowest rates in western Europe.
Vaccinations are now set to become compulsory from 1 February, the chancellor announced on Friday.
He initially said said all students would have to go back into home schooling. But the health minister later said schools would remain open for those who needed, with parents asked to keep children at home if they can.
Austria’s daily tally of Covid cases hit a new record the day before, rising above 15,000 for the first time in the Covid pandemic.
The peak of the biggest wave of infections before this was 9,586 about a year ago, when the country went into full lockdown.
“We do not want a fifth wave,” Mr Schallenberg said, public broadcaster ORF reported. “Not do we want a sixth or seventh wave.”
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On Thursday, the hardest-hit provinces started planning a full lockdown for their regions.
European neighbours - including the Czech Republic and Slovakia - have started to impose restrictions on unvaccinated people in a bid to curb the spread of Covid taking hold of the continent.
Germany has urged people to get vaccinated and warned of a ‘bleak’ Christmas ahead, amid widespread opposition to the jab there.
The Netherlands also introduced a partial lockdown last weekend, putting a curfew on supermarkets, cafes and nightclubs.
Source: independent
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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