Bars and restaurants ordered to close at midnight

Bars, restaurants and nightclubs will have to close at midnight and register their visitors starting next Monday as part of measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

"The opening hours of food serving establishments, restaurants, cafes, bars, nightclubs and other entertainment venues will be shortened to between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m.," the government said in a press release on Wednesday.

The registration requirement will not apply to take-away services.

"The mandatory registration of visitors will ensure traceability in case of infections," Interior Minister Rita Tamasuniene said.

"With a high flow of people and contacts in these places, the risk of infection is high and real, and traceability would help to better manage the situation," she added.