Belgium announced, Monday, July 27, a new tightening of measures to fight against the coronavirus pandemic, aimed at "avoiding a generalized re-containment".

"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 (north).

Faced with this situation, the number of people that Belgians are allowed to see closely and regularly as part of their "contact bubble" has been lowered from 15 to 5 people per household from Wednesday and for the next four weeks.

In addition, private gatherings (receptions, family reunions, wedding parties, etc.) are restricted to a maximum of 10 people (not counting children under 12).

Public events will be limited to 100 people indoors (instead of 200) and 200 outdoors (instead of 400), and masks 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.

Reinforced measures had already entered into force on July 25, in particular the compulsory wearing of a mask in places with high traffic (markets, shopping streets ...). The mask has been compulsory since July 11 in public transport, shops, cinemas, places of worship, museums and libraries.

"Patience" and "courage"

The Prime Minister called on the Belgians to be "patient" and "courageous". "All of these measures are being taken to avoid widespread re-containment and to avoid endangering the September re-entry period," she said.

"They must be respected at all ages, in all situations," she urged, while most infections occur in those under 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 "lockdown" .

The announcement of the new measures led the mayor of Brussels, Philippe Close, to announce the cancellation of the Foire du Midi, the biggest funfair in the capital.

On average, 279 people per day acquired a Covid-19 infection in the past week, up from 163 the previous week.

The situation is particularly problematic in the province of Antwerp, which recorded 47% of new infections last week. 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.

Belgium is one of the countries with the highest number of deaths from Covid-19 compared to its population, with 85 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.

The authorities' census of deaths from the new coronavirus is one of the most exhaustive in the world since deaths possibly linked to the virus are included, without this having been proven by a test.

With AFP

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