LOC20:48
17:48 GMT
BRUSSELS, Nov 23 (KUNA) -- Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Minister of Health Paulette Lenert Monday announced that new restrictions will be introduced in the country from Thursday in order to curb the spread of coronavirus.
They told a joint press conference in Luxembourg that the current curfew will be extended to 15 December and that the government will re-evaluate the situation in 2-3 weeks, before deciding on future measures, RTL news portal reported.
Restaurant and cafes will close for three weeks, as will cinemas, indoor playgrounds, and gyms.
Households will be able to mix with a limit of just two people outside the household.
Indoor sports will temporarily be put on hold, with the exception of physical education in schools, and professional sporting clubs.
Shops will remain open, but Bettel asked the public not to turn a grocery shop into an "outing". Masks are still mandatory.
Both Bettel and Lenert said they hoped to avoid a full lockdown, but in order for the measures to work, people must accept a temporary reduction in social contacts.
Meanwhile, 173 new coronavirus infections were reported in Luxembourg Monday, according to the latest updates announced by the country's Ministry of Health.
The total coronavirus infections have increased to 31,108 cases in the country.
The death toll from COVID-19 increased by 7 in the last 24 hours to reach 273. (end)
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