THE UK could follow Germany and Austria by plunging unvaccinated Britons into lockdown-style measures, it’s feared.
As governments in Europe scramble to respond to a dramatic rise in Covid infections, their focus has been on restricting the lives of those without jabs.
In Austria, the two million unvaccinated citizens are banned from leaving their homes unless for food or work.
Similar measures, as well as a ban for use of public transport or entering restaurants and cafes, are expected in Germany within days, with one state already denying entry into non-essential shops for the unjabbed.
Professor John Ashton, formerly regional director of public health for the North West of England, said it “may come to that” in the UK, too.
Asked what he thought of such measures on Good Morning Britain, the former president of the UK Faculty of Public Health said: “I fear that it might come to that.
“We all need to be playing our part, and at the moment, it’s as though the thing is over.
We really need to get back to wearing our masks, social distancing and yes, passports.
“This is not about civil rights, it’s about winning the battle with this virus and not throwing in the towel, which is what seems to be being advocated by the business community.”
When asked what he thought of Germany using restrictions on the unvaccinated, Prof Ashton said: “I think it may well come to that.
“But we really should be getting our secondary school kids with second vaccines before Christmas, we should be beginning to vaccinate primary school children.
“There are still millions of people who are not double vaccinated in the UK. And that’s a problem because the virus is still circulating, and while the virus is circulating, there is the potential for more mutations.”
Germany’s Covid case rate (639) – new daily infections per million – is not much higher than the UK’s (544). Austria’s is 1,145 per million.
But the nations’ full vaccination rate is lower than the UK’s. Germany has double jabbed around 67.5 per cent of its total population, and Austria only 65 per cent, compared to the UK’s 80 per cent of over 12s.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he currently sees nothing in the data that warrants even Plan B measures, let alone a lockdown.
But he has warned of the Covid “storm clouds gathering” over Europe which threaten to land in the UK.
Families have been told the only way to ensure a celebratory and safe Christmas, and avoid restrictions, is for those eligible to get their required vaccine doses.
Those who have had six months since their second vaccine dose are being told to come forward for their booster immediately, if over 40 years old, while 16 and 17 year olds are now getting their second doses.
Professor Neil Ferguson, who advises the government, believes the UK’s vaccinations rates mean Covid restrictions will not be needed over the colder months
Prof Ferguson, who notoriously lobbied for the first lockdown last year, said: “We’re in a very different situation from other European countries at the moment.
“It’s unlikely we’ll get anything close to last year’s catastrophic winter wave at this point.
“We can’t be complacent, but I don’t think we’ll be in the situation as the Netherlands.”
STORM OVER EUROPE
Infections are on the rise in a number of European countries including Austria, Germany and Slovakia.
Germany is preparing to tighten its restrictions on the unvaccinated after the seven-day incidence rate struk a new record high for the 10th day in a row on Wednesday.
There are plans for all residents requiring proof of vaccine, negative test or natural immunity when they use public transport – although it is not clear how this would be implemented.
It could be approved within days after the central government and leaders of Germany’s 16 states meet this week.
Future measures may limit gatherings, alcohol sales and see bars, universities, hotels and even Christmas markets shut.
The state of Saxony is the latest to introduce “2G rules”, meaning all non-essential shops only allow in those who can prove Covid-free certification.
The unvaccinated have been blamed for the winter surge, as their infection rates are between five and 20 times higher than those who are jabbed.
They make up about two thirds of the patients in intensive care, and there is concern that hospital capacity could be exhausted in weeks.
Markus Söder, 54, the chief minister of Bavaria, one of the worst-affected states, said the health system would “collapse” without tougher national rules, The Times reported.
“With the laws that are planned, Germany is no way secure for the winter,” he said.
Meanwhile, authorities in neighboring Austria have ramped up measures to the harshest level.
The Alpine nation on Monday implemented a nationwide lockdown for unvaccinated people who have not recently had Covid.
The Czech Republic reported 22,479 new coronavirus cases for Tuesday, the highest tally recorded since the pandemic started.
People have to show negative Covid tests or vaccination certificates to enter restaurants and bars and are required to wear masks inside.
The Czech Republic’s vaccination rate has also lagged those of other countries, with 57.6 per cent of the population fully vaccinated.
This compares to the UK’s 80 per cent and the EU average of 65.2 per cent, according to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
