The task force--a group of scientists from the country’s public research institutions--in its latest report warned that the second wave could only be slowed down “by a common social effort in reducing physical interactions, respecting hygiene measures and active participation in large-scale testing.”

The report was submitted to the government on 23 October and made public on Monday. Prime minister Xavier Bettel on Friday announced that he would be seeking to implement a curfew from 11pm to 6am as well as implementing a rule of four.

Parliament needs to agree to the new restrictions--a vote could happen later this week--but Bettel urged members of the public to already apply the rules on a voluntary basis until then.

It would take at least a week to ten days for the measures to show any effect once introduced, the task force said.

The researchers also warned that the high case numbers “will put contact tracing beyond its limits”, which would lead infections to further spiral out of control. The health ministry is already asking people to self-isolate when tested positive and inform of all their contacts. Those in turn should self-quarantine even prior to being contacted by authorities.

The contact tracing team this month had to be reinforced by the army to keep up with rising numbers but there have been reports of significant delays in tracing as well as problems arising from faulty contact information provided during interviews.

If the pandemic canont be brought into a “controllable state”, the task force said it would “culminate in a severe crisis in the healthcare system.”