Luxembourg is on the right track in its fight against coronavirus, Bettel and Lenert said. Hospital and testing capacity both remain high, the peak of returning holidaymakers has passed, and the current development in general of the virus is not ringing any alarm bells.
The government will not, however, ease any restrictions in place. At the same time, there will also be no stricter measures in the foreseeable future. Earlier this week the Chamber of Deputies agreed on replacing some of the existing measures.
A return to a more "normal life" has started after the summer break, with people feeling more comfortable to get together for group activities such as sport and culture. This, as well as people coming back from holidays, are the main reason behind the increasing number of new confirmed infections - with around a third being traced back to people returning from holidays. Lenert also noted that 20% of new cases are linked to the home, and the private sphere.
On the subject of infections, Bettel urged young people to remain vigilant, as experts have seen problematic health consequences in them as well, not just older patients. Currently, the average age of those infected is 33.4 years old, much younger than at the start of the pandemic.
The health minister also noted that the government should not act rashly, but see how the trend develops. She noted that it is normal for the virus to circulate, and that the current strategy is not to eradicate it completely, but to put the brakes on its spread and keep it under control. Last week saw 672 cases, 43 of which were found through large-scale testing, 84 through testing at Findel airport, and 285 via tests prescribed by a doctor.
Lenert said that labs reported two cases of wrong results to the ministry, which were both series of several tests - the first one included 10 tests, the second 26. This can always happen, of course, but the ministry and labs are learning from these rare mistakes so as to avoid them in future.
Luxembourg is proud of being able to inform the public of their results as quickly as possible. This aids in breaking up the chain of the virus and plays a major role of the virus' future in Luxembourg, Lenert explained.
Germany evaluates the situation in Luxembourg once per week with regards to cross-border travel, but Lenert stressed that both foreign ministers are in close contact.
The government will continue testing cross-border workers, but it has been a conscious choice to not present those figure at press briefings or to the public, as it damages the country's own image internationally. However, there is no need to panic, even after the holiday period.
Bettel is aware of the fact that full teleworking is simply not possible for many companies. Social contact is incredibly important for the development of a company, and working from home also brings its own risks and difficulties.
If the company believes basic functions can continue from home, then they should promote it, but Bettel says the future of work will not be 100% from home.
You can also read our live ticker translations of the press briefing as it happened.
