Government panel proposes extending lockdown until March

The Lithuanian government's commission on extreme situations is suggesting extending the existing lockdown until March to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

"After all arguments and figures were considered, (…) a decision was made to propose to the government to extend the lockdown for another month until February 28," Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite, who chairs the commission, told journalists after its meeting on Monday.

Lithuania was placed under lockdown on November 7 and it was tightened on December 16 and extended until January 31.

The majority of shops, sports and leisure establishments are closed in the country and inter-municipal movement, as well as gathering at home and in public places are restricted.