UEUR - Lockdown begins in Austria as concerns grow over European recovery

With surging coronavirus infections across the country, Austria has become the first western European nation to reimpose a national lockdown on its citizens since COVID-19 vaccines became widely available. The unpopular measure will shutter restaurants, bars, theaters, Christmas markets and non-essential shops for 10 days initially, but could be expanded to as many as 20 as intensive care beds run short. The government has also made it compulsory for all citizens to get vaccinated as of Feb. 1 (it has the lowest vaccination rate in western Europe, with 66% of its population fully vaccinated, though that compares to 59% in the U.S.). iShares MSCI Austria Capped ETF (NYSEARCA:EWO) dropped 4% on Friday ahead of the lockdown (see YTD performance here). Quote: "It is a situation where we have to react now," Austrian Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein told ORF TV. "A lockdown, a relatively tough method, a sledgehammer, is the only option to

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Lockdown begins in Austria as concerns grow over European recovery