Zeebrugge also made this decision, as did Nieuwpoort (for people over 12). These announcements come after the CNS’s decision to make the wearing of a mask compulsory in shopping streets and busy places. Some other coastal towns strongly recommend wearing a mask. “There are sometimes a lot of people on the dike, just like in the shopping district,” says Daphné Dumery. “For the sake of clarity, we are therefore making the wearing of a mask compulsory for the central shopping area and the dike. That way, everyone knows where they are,” she explains.
Nieuport also requires the wearing of the mask on the dike. “The recess is over. We have to be serious if we want to prevent the spread of the virus,” said mayor Geert Vanden Broucke (CD&V) in a press release. “I count on everyone – visitor and resident – to strictly follow these measures.”
Same decision in Zeebrugge (locality belonging to the City of Bruges), said mayor Dirk De fauw (CD&V). “The center of Bruges can get very busy due to the many tourists, but sometimes there are also a lot of people walking on the dike. The attendance is similar. So we decided to make it compulsory to wear a mask on the dike. “
A number of other municipalities such as Ostend, Le Coq and Middelkerke already made the wearing of a mask compulsory during weekly markets. “But it stops there”, declares the mayor of Middelkerke, Jean-Marie Dedecker (LDD). “There is enough room on the beach and the sea wall. We have to let people live a little.”
For now, Knokke is also following federal measures. The municipality will decide tomorrow / Friday which streets are considered as shopping streets.
Ostend has already announced on Wednesday that wearing a mask will become compulsory in all markets as well as in several shopping streets and the James Ensor gallery. The municipality strongly recommends wearing a mouth mask on the dike, nightlife spots and other busy areas.
Koksijde, Veurne, De Panne and Nieuport have decided to set up a local network in order to immediately inform those with whom an infected person has come into contact.
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