More than 1,000 weekend virus cases, as lockdown draws closer
Luxembourg recorded more than 1,000 new Covid cases over the weekend, making it increasingly likely that the country will close bars, restaurants and fitness centres to stem the spread of the virus.
Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Health Minister Paulette Lenert will hold a press conference on Monday to discuss proposed new restrictions after the country reported 602 new coronavirus cases on Sunday and 571 on Saturday, above the 500 new daily cases target Bettel has set for the country to avoid going into a second lockdown.
There were also six more deaths over the weekend, bringing the total number of fatalities up to 266.
The planned restrictions, which authorities hope will slow the spread of the deadly virus, include closing bars, restaurants, cinemas and fitness centres. In contrast to the first lockdown the new measures would leave shops, museums and art galleries open.
Bettel signalled on Friday that the three-week-long regime could continue into late December - or longer if needed - and that he would extend a curfew which came into force earlier this month into December. Under that regime, residents are forbidden from being out of their homes between 2300 hrs and 0600 hrs the next morning.
Since the start of the crisis in March, police have carried out around 17,000 checks to ensure residents are complying with the pandemic rules such as wearing masks and not gathering in large groups, and have handed out fines to 2,000 people for not wearing a mask.
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