Health Minister Vili Beros announced on Thursday that the national COVID-19 crisis management team would introduce a new package of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, including a wider use of COVID certificates, but there would not be a new lockdown.

“We are completely clear that we must react. A new package of measures is being hammered out and it will be presented at a press conference tomorrow. Epidemiologists will this time again put forward measures which will be agreed on with the goal of preventing the spread of the infection, a further rise in the number of new cases and ensuring the stability of the health system,” Beros told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

He confirmed that the new measures included a wider use of COVID certificates, although he “certainly hopes that we wouldn’t need a COVID certificate to go for a coffee or to a shopping centre”.

“There are a number of other measures with which we can try to prevent the further spread of the virus. We’ll see everything tomorrow,” said Beros, noting that the new measures sought to strike a balance between restrictions and a normal life.

He underscored that the those who had been vaccinated had been taken into account in the new package of measures.

“There cannot be a new lockdown. Those who are truly protected, those who have recovered from the infection and been vaccinated, we cannot restrict their lives,” Beros said.