Switzerland plans to extend its lockdown restrictions by five weeks to the end of February, including closing all restaurants, cultural and recreational sites, Reuters quoted the government as saying on Wednesday.

A formal decision is due next week after consultations with cantons.

Exemptions for regions less severely hit by the coronavirus have been scrapped, the government said, with a country-wide approach entering force from Saturday.

Switzerland in mid-December adopted a month-long “lockdown light”, ordering restaurants and sports and recreation centres closed and urging people to stay home.