Belgium announced on Monday a further tightening of measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic, in the face of an increase in cases in the country and in order to "avoid a generalized reconfinement". "The epidemiological data are worrying and we are very concerned," Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès said at a press conference following a National Security Council. She expressed in particular "serious concerns" about "a major epidemiological conflagration" in Antwerp, in the north.
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Faced with this situation, the number of people Belgians are allowed to see as part of their "contact bubble" has been lowered from 15 to 5 people from Wednesday for the next four weeks. Public events will be limited to 100 people indoors (instead of 200) and 200 outdoors (instead of 400) and wearing a mask will be compulsory. Teleworking is "strongly recommended when possible", continued Sophie Wilmès, regretting that it is "less and less used". Belgians are also invited to do their shopping alone and limit them to 30 minutes.
"Avoid widespread re-containment"
Reinforced measures had already entered into force on Saturday, in particular the compulsory wearing of a mask in places with high traffic (markets, flea markets, shopping streets, hotels ...). The mask has been compulsory since July 11 in public transport, shops, cinemas, places of worship, museums and libraries. If the wearing of a mask is not required in a generalized way, it is compulsory in "many situations", underlined Sophie Wilmès.
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The Prime Minister called on the Belgians to be "patient" and "courageous". "All these measures are made to avoid widespread re-containment. They must be respected at all ages, in all situations," she urged, while most infections occur in those under the age of 60. The previous confinement was "extremely trying for most of our fellow citizens" and "we are at the dawn of an unprecedented economic crisis", she stressed to explain the need to avoid a new confinement.
Resurgence of cases
On average, 279 people per day acquired a Covid-19 infection in the past week, up from 163 the previous week. The situation was particularly problematic in the province of Antwerp, which recorded 47% of new infections last week, and the Prime Minister called on local authorities to take "strong measures" quickly. The country had 66,026 cases listed since the start of the pandemic and 9,821 deaths on Monday.