When the general lockdown restrictions are lifted in Austria on Sunday, unvaccinated citizens will have to remain in lockdown, according to new Chancellor Karl Nehammer, the day after he took office, the country's third leader in three months.

The country went into lockdown a fortnight ago to attempt to curb soaring daily Covid cases which had hit all-time highs. Non-essential shops, theatres, bars and restaurants were all forced to close their doors, as well as hotels to tourists.

Since the lockdown measures came into effect, the number of daily cases has fallen, yet intensive care occupancy continues to rise, Reuters reports.

The week prior to the widespread lockdown, those not fully vaccinated were forced into lockdown, and only permitted to leave home for the same limited number of reasons as the entire country now, such as travelling to work.

"The lockdown for the unvaccinated is staying," Chancellor Nehammer told a news conference, adding that Austria’s wider lockdown would be lifted as scheduled on Sunday.

However, details still need to be finalised during a meeting on Wednesday between the government and the governors of the country’s nine provinces.

"For all the unvaccinated who are suffering from the fact they are staying in lockdown, there is a clear offer: you can come out of it if you seize the chance to get vaccinated," Nehammer said.

When questioned as to whether hotels and restaurants would re-open at the weekend, the Chancellor added this was already agreed with provincial governors and the objective was to have as many businesses back open as possible.

The number of vaccinated people in Austria is still among the lowest in Western Europe, with just 68% of the population inoculated.