"I want to say very honestly: unless all of us follow the rules and don't look for exceptions (to restrictions), the system may break down in about two weeks," he told a news conference.
A certain reserve and the possibility of reallocating capacity among hospitals still exist, but new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations will continue to grow "by inertia" for at least the next few weeks and the situation is unlikely to turn for the better until around the New Year, he said.
Some 2,307 COVID-19 patients are currently being treated in Lithuanian hospitals, including 184 in intensive care units.
A total of 99,869 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Lithuania so far. The country currently has 55,143 active cases and 43,379 recoveries.
As part of tightened lockdown measures in place since Wednesday, non-essential stores and hair salons have been closed and all non-essential travel has been banned.