Belgium is closing nightclubs
Belgium decided on Friday to take a new turn in social life to stem the sharp rise in Covid contamination, forcing nightclubs to close and the population to limit their contacts and indoor activities as much as possible. “Today we really want to avoid too many people being too close to each other», Explained Prime Minister Alexander De Croo at a press conference. “The pressure on hospitals continues to increaseHe said. Nightclubs must close again from this weekend, for at least three weeks. After more than 18 months of forced inactivity, in October they were able to reopen compliance with strict health protocols.
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Indoor sports competitions will again take place without an audience, and private receptions in an enclosed space.are forbidden», With the exception of weddings and funerals, with a maximum of 50 guests having obtained a health pass. Cafes and restaurants must close at 11 p.m. and customers must be seated, with a maximum of six per table. The public will no longer be able to stand in a concert. All these new measures will be the subject of a first evaluation on December 15, said Alexander De Croo. “Private meetings are prohibited and if there are public meetings inside they are subject to very strict rules.“, A statement by his side the Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke, recalling the importance of vaccination.
Hospitalizations “higher than the most pessimistic curves”
“If you are not vaccinated, the risk of ending up in the hospital is eight times greater than for someone vaccinated.», Said this Flemish socialist official. In Belgium, 75% of the population (88% of those over 18) received a first complete vaccination. Vaccination centers should reopen next week to speed up the administration of the booster dose, one of the main objectives of the authorities. To date, 1.25 million Belgians have had this reminder, intended primarily for people over 65 and vulnerable people.
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The government did not wish to limit again the “bulls“Private contacts at home, but appealed to”common sense“Of the Belgians, in particular for”protect the elderly“. Alexander De Croo had made alarmist remarks Thursday to justify the emergency convening on Friday morning of the consultation committee (associating the heads of regional executives) to adopt these new measures. The increase in contaminations – nearly 17,000 per day on average – and hospitalizations is “greater than the most pessimistic curves“Sketched out last week by experts, said the Flemish liberal leader.