Evening roundupFriday's key coronavirus developments in Luxembourg and abroad

In Luxembourg

• Luxembourg counted four new coronavirus cases, but a new milestone was reached with fewer than 100 active infections remaining, namely 87 on Friday.

• Restaurant and terraces with outdoor seating were already allowed to reopen last Wednesday. As of this Friday, indoor seating is also permitted again - provided a number of precautionary measures are respected.

• Minister for the Environment Carole Dieschbourg and Minister for Energy Claude Turmes presented Luxembourg’s green relaunch plan, focusing on various support packages that owners who renovate their homes can apply for.

• The “Baggerweier” swimming area in Remerschen is set to reopen on Saturday 30 May, although access will be regulated.

• The government said it was not considering reducing the VAT rate on protective products such as masks.

• And lastly, as flights resume on Friday, Luxairport and Luxair have been working to offer security and comfort to all passengers travelling this Pentecost weekend.

In International news

• Russia reported a record increase of 232 coronavirus deaths on Friday, taking it to a total of 4,374 deaths and 387,623 cases, the third-highest number of infections in the world after the United States and Brazil.

• More than two months after closing its borders, Denmark has loosened restrictions to let couples separated by coronavirus lockdowns finally see each other again.

• Sweden‘s two biggest opposition parties called Friday for an independent commission to be appointed within weeks to probe the country’s response to the new coronavirus. There has been broad political unity over Sweden’s softer approach to the new coronavirus, but most parties have agreed on the need to examine the government’s crisis management.

• Carmaker Renault said Friday that it would cut nearly 15,000 jobs, including 4,600 at its core French operations, as it seeks to steer out of a cash crunch exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis.

• Spain‘s leftwing government approved a minimum basic income scheme on Friday to tackle a spike in poverty stemming from the virus crisis that has forced many families to rely on food aid.

• Dutch authorities on Thursday announced a nationwide ban on the transport of mink after mink farm workers were believed to have contracted coronavirus from the small mammals.