Lenert to return at helm of health crisis mid-April

Luxembourg Health Minister Paulette Lenert, who has been overseeing the health crisis for over a year, will not be returning to work until until April 18, the government said on Friday, after being admitted to hospital last week.

Lenert, who has been resting at home after suffering a malaise, is "temporarily unable to administer the ministerial functions of which she is in charge," the government said. Romain Schneider, currently minister for agriculture, has been brought in as a caretaker to lead the health ministry through the pandemic and deal with the country's sluggish vaccine roll-out. 

The number of coronavirus vaccinations dropped by 20% in Luxembourg last week - a setback for what is already one of the slowest roll-outs in Europe.  The number of people who were found to carry the deadly virus increased by 7.7% to 1,684 last week, data showed on Wednesday, and the number of people in hospital with the disease rose to 107 from 99 the week before.

Over the Easter weekend, five deaths were recorded, bringing the total number of fatalities in the country to 755, just as the country will relax some of the restrictions on social gatherings next week. Terraces will be open from 0600 until 1800 hrs, with only a maximum of two people from different households allowed to meet at once, and a minimum 1.5 metre gap between tables.

The Luxembourg Times has a new mobile app, download here! Get the Luxembourg Times delivered to your inbox twice a day. Sign up for your free newsletters here.