Austria has announced a lockdown of individuals who are yet to receive full vaccination against COVID-19.

The Austrian authorities issued the order on Monday, insisting that it was a necessary move as hospital intensive care units were filling up.

Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said they are not taking the step lightly.

"We are not taking this step lightly, but unfortunately it is necessary," Schallenberg said.

Alexander Schallenberg. PHOTO/COURTESY

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The affected population will only be allowed to leave their homes for defined and limited reasons such as work or getting more necessary supplies.

The lockdown will affect about two million people across Austria and will initially last for 10 days.

However, hundreds of Austrians protested the order last weekend outside the chancellery in Vienna.

Before the order was issued, people who are not fully vaccinated were already barred from accessing services from hairdressers, enjoying public cinemas, visit restaurants and other public places.

The Austrian government has charged the police to carry out spot checks in public places to verify the vaccination status of individuals and those caught contravening the law will be fined.

Since the order was issued, vaccination centres across the country wave experienced a surge in numbers of people coming in for vaccination.

Austria is among the Western European countries that have registered the lowest rates of vaccination at about 65 per cent of the entire population.