Luxembourg's Minister of Health Paulette Lenert joined our colleagues on RTL Radio for an interview on Monday morning.
Although the government announced an easing of restrictions at the end of last week, Lenert continues to advocate for the use of Covid-19 vaccines. Even if the virus is known to spread less during the coming summer months, people should not underestimate the risk of a new infection wave in the autumn, explained the politician.
Although the vaccines are not able to prevent infections altogether, they still reduce the risk of serious illness and hospitalisations. Since the priority has always been to keep the country's health care sector running, the vaccines are doing their job, she concluded.
When asked about the return of the 3G system at work and in restaurants, which makes it easier for unvaccinated people to participate in society again, Lenert underlined that some important measures, like certified rapid tests, remain in place.
The change to 2G in December was a preventive step to counteract the Omicron wave, but it was always the government's intention to operate under the 3G system.
The politician acknowledged that even under the strictest measures, the take-up rate for first vaccinations failed to rise significantly.
Nevertheless, the government will continue to run and adapt its campaigns to convince sceptics and those who simply hesitate.
Minister Lenert thus explained that the vaccine mandate is a last resort. The law will be set up before summer so that it can be implemented quickly if needed in Autumn.
When asked about the shortening of quarantine periods, she expressed her hope that people continue being honest with the results of their rapid tests and that nobody endangers people in their surroundings unnecessarily.
The politician was unable to provide much insight into the planned adaptations of measures in the education sector, but conveyed that changes are likely to come into effect after the holidays.
