Lockdown on cultural and sports events as government tightens coronavirus measures

The government has effected a two-week lockdown on cultural events and severely curbed leisure-time activities in a bid to stop the alarming spread of coronavirus infections.

As of Friday restaurants, pubs and bars will have to close at 8pm and can only seat four at one table. Live music and dancing will be prohibited. Although fast foods in shopping malls will remain open there can only be two people at a table. Wifi connections will not be available in order to prevent people congregating there for longer periods of time. Gyms, fitness centres and swimming pools must close their doors for a period of two weeks by midnight Friday.

Theatres and cinemas will close on Monday. Mass sports events will be prohibited and indoor sports halls will be closed. No more than ten people can meet for indoor events, twenty outdoors.

Primary schools will remain open, secondary schools will alternate classroom and distance learning by the week, with students divided into two groups. Universities will continue online.

Employers have been asked to introduce home office wherever possible.

The measures will be revised in a fortnights’ time.