VIENNA—Thousands of protesters against COVID-19 lockdown measures faced off with police in riot gear in Vienna on Sunday. Vienna police banned numerous protests planned for this weekend, including one by the right-wing Freedom Party on Sunday, on the grounds that protesters have generally failed to observe rules on social distancing and often not worn face masks. Since Dec. 26, Austria has been in its third national lockdown, with non-essential shops and many other businesses closed and their staff unable to work. The opposition Freedom Party has denounced various restrictions as “corona madness”. Freedom Party deputy leader Herbert Kickl on Saturday accused the conservative-led government of banning criticism in general. He urged his supporters to go on a walk in the capital instead of attending the banned protest, and to “articulate their displeasure peacefully”. The affiliation of many of Sunday’s protesters was not immediately clear. Some of them, however, expressed support …