Schools, cafes, restaurants, nightclubs will be closed in Belgium to fight the spread of the new coronavirus, and all gatherings will be canceled “no matter their size and nature“Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès announced on Thursday evening. The closure of schools at the national level will be effective from next weekend”until Friday 3 April inclusive“, on the eve of the Easter holidays, said Ms. Wilmès at a press conference after a National Security Council devoted to this pandemic.
During these three weeks, however, reception will be possible in schools for children whose parents work in hospitals and care in general. “This rule should not prevent hospitals and health centers from operating normally.“said the Prime Minister.
The crèches will remain open, she said. As for universities, several of them had already announced earlier today the suspension of courses on site. Regarding rallies, the National Security Council – uniting the presidents of the federated entities around the main federal ministers – took drastic measures. “All recreational, sporting, cultural, folk activities, regardless of their size and nature, public or private, are canceled“, said Sophie Wilmès.
In France, the rule remains for the moment the cancellation of gatherings of more than 1000 people even if many events, with a smaller gauge, are also postponed.
Another difference: “discos, cafes and restaurants must be closed“in Belgium. In France, such a measure is not yet discussed.
Finally, stores that do not provide essential products or services (excluding food and pharmacy) must remain closed on weekends. Public transport will continue to circulate, but the Belgian Prime Minister advises to take it only if necessary.
Coronavirus in Belgium: courses suspended, HoReCa closed, find out about government measures –
“Not a lockdown”
The head of government said that all these measures valid for the three regions (Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels) would come into effect from midnight on the night of Friday to Saturday, until April 3. “This is not a lockdown (a complete block, note). We want to avoid situations like in Italy “, said Ms. Wilmès in reference to the European country most affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, having more than a thousand deaths.
Belgium, a country of 11.4 million inhabitants, has so far identified 399 cases of contamination. Three of these patients died, a 90 year old woman and two 73 and 86 year old men.
On Thursday evening, the Prime Minister again stressed the need to protect seniors in particular. Parents who would be forced to call on grandparents to look after their children will also be able to benefit from the reception maintained in schools, she explained.
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