Under the 2G+ regime, people who have not received a booster shot will, in addition to being vaccinated or recovered, have to take a self-test to enter a restaurant or bar. (Photo: Romain Gamba/Maison Moderne/archives)

Under the 2G+ regime, people who have not received a booster shot will, in addition to being vaccinated or recovered, have to take a self-test to enter a restaurant or bar. (Photo: Romain Gamba/Maison Moderne/archives)

Just over a week after the introduction of a CovidCheck system reinforced by the application of the 2G regime in bars and restaurants, the government has decided to introduce a 2G+ regime.

What is the 2G+ regime?

Under the 2G+ regime, a person must have a full vaccination schedule or have recovered from covid, as under the previous 2G regime. A negative test is therefore not accepted for unvaccinated people. But there is an additional constraint: anyone wanting to enter a bar or restaurant must have received a booster shot. If not, they must perform a self-test on the spot.

"The 3G regime with access also for unvaccinated but tested persons puts these unvaccinated persons at great risk," the government explains. However, since "the booster reduces the risk of infection by a factor of 10" and "protects very well against infection with the Omicron variant…the switch to 2G+ once again strongly limits the risk of being in the presence of highly infectious people".

If the self-test is compulsory for people who have not received a booster shot, it remains “recommended” for everyone, prime minister Xavier Bettel (DP) said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Where does it apply?

The 2G+ regime will apply from Saturday 25 December in restaurants, bars or cultural venues . "The 2G+ can be replaced by the two-metre distance rule with seating and wearing a mask," the Chamber of Deputies said.

The 2G+ regime will also apply to gatherings of more than 20 people, with the provision that between 11 and 20 people "wear a mask and observe a minimum distance of two metres" if the CovidCheck regime is not applied. Above 200 people, indoor gatherings are prohibited, unless they are subject to a health protocol cleared in advance by the health directorate.

The 3G regime applicable at the workplace

Although the 2G+ regime has replaced the 2G regime, the 3G regime remains applicable at the workplace. Under the 3G scheme, a person must prove that they are vaccinated, recovered (valid between the 11th and 180th day after a first positive test) or that they have a negative PCR (less than 48 hours old) or certified antigenic test (less than 24 hours old).

This regime will apply from 15 January 2022 in the workplace. Employees, public servants and self-employed workers will only be able to access their workplace if they are vaccinated, cured or have a professionally certified PCR or antigen test.

This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.