Austria hits COVID high despite lockdown

Austria's COVID-19 case numbers have risen to a daily record on the third day of a lockdown for those not fully vaccinated aimed at halting a surge of infections.

Roughly 65 per cent of Austria's population is fully vaccinated against the virus, one of the lowest rates in western Europe.

The nation also has one of the highest infection rates on the continent, with a seven-day incidence of 925 per 100,000 people.

Soaring infections across Europe as winter approaches are prompting governments to consider reintroducing unpopular lockdowns.

In contrast to the Netherlands, which has ordered a partial lockdown for all, Austria has sought to avoid placing extra restrictions on the fully vaccinated.

Daily infections rose to 14,416 on Wednesday, official data showed, the first time they have passed the 14,000 mark.

The peak of the biggest wave of infections before this was 9586 about a year ago, when the country went into full lockdown.

Having barred the unvaccinated from places including restaurants, hotels, theatres and ski lifts 10 days ago, the government ordered a lockdown under which the roughly two million people not fully vaccinated can only leave their homes for a limited number of reasons.

Those include going to work, shopping for essentials and "stretching your legs" with no limit on time or distance.

Given those sweeping categories, there are doubts about whether the lockdown can be properly enforced.

The situation is worst in two of Austria's nine provinces, Upper Austria and Salzburg, where hospitals are coming under increasing strain.