Germany may see four to five more months of coronavirus restrictions, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier has said, dashing hopes of a quick end to a partial lockdown introduced two weeks ago.

“The infection numbers are still far too high — much higher even than a fortnight ago,” Altmaier told the Bild an Sonntag newspaper ahead of a government meeting on Monday to assess the progress of the restrictions.

“We will have to live with considerable precautions and restrictions for at least the next four to five months,” Altmaier said. “Many people are now understandably hoping for a loosening (of restrictions), that restaurants or cinemas will reopen. But in view of the still far too high infection rates, we have little room for manoeuvre.”