LThe Belgian government announced Wednesday that it was canceling its decision to close theaters, cinemas and performance halls taken to stem the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, after being disowned the day before by the courts. The Council of State, the highest administrative court in the country, on Tuesday suspended the closure of “closed places in the cultural sector”, following an appeal for interim measures by a theater producer. The measure, announced on December 22 by Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, had provoked a rebellion in artistic circles. The latter released a press release on Wednesday evening announcing the withdrawal of the controversial measure and a return to previous conditions, on his Twitter account. The Consultative Committee, which continues federal and regional leaders, “today took note (…) of the recent judgment of the Council of State”.

“The Committee decided on health after the conditions for the cultural sector that it had defined during the meeting of December 3: only seats, wearing of the compulsory mask, use of the CST (Covid Safe Ticket, pass) from 50 spectators, maximum 200 spectators ”, it is indicated. “These conditions also apply in cinemas and the event sector” and “will take effect tomorrow”, Thursday, specifies the text.