Same Hygiene Rules to Apply Indoors as Outdoors for Household Visits

At a press conference on Friday afternoon, Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Internal Security, François Bausch, and the Director General of the Grand Ducal Police, Philippe Schrantz, presented changes to police activity foreseen with the implementation of the second phase of the national lockdown exit strategy from Monday 11 May 2020.

François Bausch began by stressing that it was essential that the public continue to follow social distancing measures and wear masks to protect themselves and others in the coming weeks. These measures apply outdoors as well as indoors, for instance when visiting friends and family within the current restrictions. 

Minister Bausch recalled that the following activities are now authorised, as long as hygiene measures are respected: household visits of maximum six people (in addition to those living there), meetings of up to 20 people in public spaces. Masks should be worn and safety distances adhered to within other people's homes. He also stressed that these authorisations should not be misinterpreted as meaning that parties are now allowed, adding that the goal remains reducing the risk of infection through limited social contact. 

For his part, Philippe Schrantz explained that the police have being carrying out patrols 24/7 across the country to ensure that government measures and restrictions are being respected. This work is in addition to continued patrols in relation to burglaries and drug operations. The director general of the police added that officers had issued 2,000 fines during their COVID-19 patrols, most of which were due to what was deemed as unnecessary travel. Nevertheless, he said that most people had been respecting the rules.

Phillipe Schrantz went on to confirm a decline in burglaries and traffic accidents over the past weeks, although the police are preparing for a potential increase in crime and accidents as lockdown restrictions are lifted. He added that police work will remain as important as ever in the next weeks, with officers continuing to ensure that regulations are respected. Mr Schrantz recalled that "more freedom means more responsibility for everyone", adding that this responsibility applies not only for ourselves but for others, too.

Regarding police priorities for the next phase of the exit strategy, officers will focus on ensuring that the following three measures are respected: social distancing; the wearing of masks; a maximum of six guests in homes or 20 people in public gatherings. Nevertheless, in a Q&A session with the press, Phillipe Schrantz clarified that the police cannot and do not wish to go into private homes. Instead, they will respond to complaints from other members of the public.

The director general of the police also confirmed that 28 staff members had fallen ill during the health crisis, with one individual still affected. In this regard, Mr Schrantz assured that the protection of staff was vital, with officers having been equipped with protective clothing and social distancing in place in police buildings. 

Regarding whether or not the police had noted an increase in domestic violence incidents during the confinement period, Phillipe Schrantz maintained that it was too soon to say, although there had been a slight increase in family disputes.