Vienna, December 6 (RHC)-- Another series of demonstrations against COVID restrictions have taken place in European cities, including a rally of 40,000 people in Vienna, Austria, where a lockdown is starting today, and vaccinations are set to become mandatory in February. 

In Belgium, protesters clashed with police in Brussels as they marched towards the E.U. headquarters. Demonstrations also took place in Spain, Germany, The Netherlands and Australia.

In Germany, outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel used her final video podcast as the country’s leader to urge residents to get vaccinated amid a fourth COVID wave.   She said: “Take the malicious virus seriously.  Right now the new Omicron variant seems to be more infectious as the previous ones.  Get yourself vaccinated.  It doesn’t matter if it is a first shot or a booster.  Every vaccine helps.”