"The higher the number of infections, the more restrictive measures are needed," said Kurz after the Council of Ministers met Monday on Austria's national holiday.
"The ultimate measure is a second lockdown," he added.
"We are experiencing massive, exponential growth. This is an extreme challenge," Kurz said. "The situation is very, very serious, even for those who still don't want to believe it."
Kurz went on to say that the situation in hospitals will be decisive in determining if a second lockdown is needed. He added that the goal of increased restrictions is to prevent intensive care units from being overwhelmed.