On Sunday evening, the Cabinet of the Luxembourg government met to address the rapidly-evolving situation concerning the spread of the Coronavirus throughout the Grand Duchy, as well as in neighbouring countries, and held a press conference to announce a series of new measures to limit the spread of the virus and to protect people at risk.

The proposed measures take into account the pathogenic and contagious nature of the COVID-19 virus. In this context, respecting the rules of distance in interpersonal relationships is one of the most effective measures to limit the spread of the virus. The following measures come into effect at midnight on Monday and apply until further notice, and complement other measures previously announced last Thursday.

1. Elderly people aged 65+ as well as vulnerable people: It is strongly recommended to stay at home and only go out when absolutely necessary.

2. Travel restriction for the general public: Traffic on the public roads is limited to the following activities:

- purchase of foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and basic necessities,
- travel to health facilities,
- travel to work for the exercise of professional or commercial activity,
- assistance and care for the elderly, minors, dependent people, disabled people or particularly vulnerable people,
- travel to financial and insurance institutions in case of emergency,
- due to a case of force majeure or a situation of necessity,
- leisure activities (walking, jogging, play areas, etc.), subject to respecting an interpersonal distance of 2 metres.

3. Hospital sector: Hospitals will deploy staff and services mainly to urgent, "non-deprogrammable" and acute activities. COVID-19 infected patients who do not have serious complications (mild symptoms) are to be treated at home.

4. Maintaining essential activities: Activities which are essential for the maintenance of the vital interests of the people and of the country must be maintained. These include the following sectors and activities:
- the production and distribution of energy and petroleum products;
- the health sector with hospital activities and medical analysis laboratories;
- the food sector;
- water distribution;
- collection and treatment of wastewater;
- removal and management of waste.
- public transport;
- administrative services which work in public power;
- exchange, payment and settlement systems for financial instruments.

5. Recommendations for companies: it is recommended that companies use teleworking as much as possible and reduce their activities to tasks that are essential for the operation of the business.

6. Limitation of professional activities: all commercial and craft activities that welcome public audiences remain closed. This closure does not affect commercial premises that sell food products, as well as:
- pharmacies,
- opticians,
- animal feed stores,
- telecommunications businesses,
- stores for hygiene and washing products and sanitary equipment,
- sale of fuel and petrol stations,
- distributors and specialized trade in medical and sanitary material,
- kiosks,
- laundry and clothes cleaning services,
- financial and insurance institutions,
- funeral services.
The closure also targets shops in shopping centres, with the exception of the activities referred to above.

7. Cancellation of all non-essential activities: All cultural, social, festive, sporting and recreational activities are suspended: this covers all establishments in the cultural, recreational, sports and HORECA sectors wheich are to remain closed (museums, bars, restaurants, cinemas, cafes, nightclubs, libraries, swimming pools, sports halls, etc.). The ban does not apply to take-away (take-out), drive-in and home delivery services. Hotels remain open. Restaurants and hotel bars, with the exception of room service, are to remain closed.

8. Administrations and public establishments: the government will reduce the activities of public administrations and establishments to tasks essential for its proper functioning and for the management of the crisis. The reception and counters of administrations and public establishments will continue to operate but on a reduced service. If necessary, personnel thus released will be used for the performance of other functions considered essential in the context of crisis management.