The Consultation Committee has made the decision: when the catering industry reopens on 8 May, the terraces may remain open until 10 pm. The cultural sector can only organize test events next month. ‘Letting go of the very strict restrictions gives more freedom, but also more responsibility’.
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Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (open VLD) indicated at a press conference after the Consultation Committee that the vaccination campaign is the guiding principle for the easing. ‘It’s just that we can lay the foundation for a summer without worries. Not only can the terraces reopen, but there can also be more events’. He states that 72 percent of the over-65s have already been vaccinated. By the end of May, about half of the adult population would have received at least a first dose of the vaccine.
“If you receive a letter of summons: get vaccinated,” said the prime minister. “There is nothing that can be more urgent than getting vaccinated now.”
De Croo also states that the vaccination campaign is currently proceeding at such a pace that the outdoor plan can come into effect on May 8. It is clear to the prime minister that we must resolve the measures ‘step by step’. ‘In recent months we have all shown that we can take that responsibility. We can enjoy that freedom, but we can also do it responsibly. ‘
• This has been decided by the Consultation Committee
Terraces open
Specifically, it has been agreed that the terraces will open, under strict rules. ‘The catering industry must limit itself to tables for four people. That can only be more with people from the same family. It only concerns seats, the closing time will be at 10 pm. ‘
The terraces will receive an exception to the prohibition to sell alcohol after 8 pm. The taps therefore remain open until 10 pm. For night shops and supermarkets, it remains the case that they are no longer allowed to offer alcoholic drinks after 8 pm.
Test events only
The culture and events sector still needs to be patient. A decision on organizing events in July and August will not follow until May 11th. ‘We need a little more time to be able to make the right decisions there’. The Consultation Committee has already decided that only test events may take place in May. An event with a maximum of 50 people can take place outdoors. The condition is that by then 80 percent of the over-65s have been vaccinated.
Flemish Prime Minister Jan Jambon says he remains ‘cautious’ at these test events. ‘We are getting advice from the Corona Commission for this, and will allow the test events to take place in function of that advice.
Up to 200 visitors can be organized indoors in June, but the exact number also depends on the maximum capacity of the room. A condition for taking that next step is that 80 percent of people with underlying conditions have been vaccinated and that fewer than 500 beds in intensive care units have been taken by corona patients.
Camps and fairs
Flemish Prime Minister Jan Jambon (N-VA) also gave perspective to young people at the press conference, and more specifically the summer camps. ‘From June 25, groups can enter up to fifty people both inside and outside, with the option of staying overnight,’ says Jambon. If the epidemiological situation is better than expected, this group can be expanded.
From June, fairs and flea markets may also take place again. The same conditions apply to the progress of the vaccinations and the lower staffing levels in the ICU wards.
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