Many European countries have eased, or are planning to ease, coronavirus restrictions as spring approaches. RTL spoke to Minister of Health Paulette Lenert about the government's plans following the half-term holiday.
The minister appeared optimistic, saying it would seem the latest wave of infections has passed. In spite of this, the law on mandatory vaccinations could be ready sooner than expected, although it remains to be seen if the government will put it into practice.
Paulette Lenert told RTL that the government was planning to take stock of the situation following the carnival holiday, but that their strategy would focus on preparation for the autumn, as well as a number of potential scenarios. She said the government's view had always been that restrictions would stay in place as long as they are required, but declined to name a specific date for the end of all Covid measures.
Ministers have been working on the bill for mandatory vaccination since the start of the year, with the text expected to be completed somewhat earlier than anticipated. Lenert explained that analysis was currently ongoing to determine the impact of the mandate. She said she did not think there would be another Covid law in Luxembourg again before autumn 2022, but the Ministry of Health was analysing different scenarios and preparing accordingly.
Luxembourg's vaccine centres will stay open for the foreseeable future, with a view to dispensing a new generation of vaccines due to appear on the market. The Ministry of Health's experts have predicted a fresh wave of infections in the autumn months, but Lenert stressed it was difficult to predict at this stage. She concluded that the next few months would maintain an air of uncertainty regarding the pandemic.
British experts predict four possible scenarios
Scientific advisers to the British government have predicted four possible scenarios for the pandemic in 2022, the most optimistic of which foresees a wave of cases in autumn, albeit with only mild infections.
The worst-case scenario would see the virus becoming more transmissible and leading to more severe illness. In this scenario, experts predict high numbers of infections, matched by hospitalisations for serious illness, as the autumn months approach.
