Covid-19: wearing a mask will no longer be compulsory in Brussels from October 1

Wearing a mask will no longer be compulsory everywhere in Belgium, but remains compulsory in places where distancing is impossible.

REUTERS / Yves Herman

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès convened a National Security Council this Wednesday, September 23, which decided to lighten part of the pandemic control measures.

The quarantine is reduced from fourteen to seven days, parties such as weddings will be allowed again if they are organized by professionals, and the mask will no longer be compulsory everywhere.

But the announcements come as the authorities consider the situation still worrying in the country and the number of cases increasing.

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With our correspondent in Brussels

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Wearing a mask will no longer be compulsory everywhere in Belgium, but it remains compulsory in schools, transport, shopping streets, cinemas.

That is to say all places where distancing is impossible.

The National Security Council has in a way heard Belgian public opinion, which is very critical of the obligation to wear the mask in empty streets.

The authorities, on the other hand, maintained the social bubble of five people, a measure which many Belgians hoped would be relieved and which others deliberately choose to ignore.

Until further notice, for contacts without mask or distance, Belgians therefore remain limited to five adults outside their home.

Travel bans removed

Likewise, from Friday, the Belgian Foreign Ministry abolished travel bans so far issued for many

.

These red zones remain but they will henceforth be " 

 " and no longer prohibited.

This removes the possibility of border checks and sanctions that can in theory go up to 500 euros in fines or imprisonment.

Sanctions never applied until now.

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• Belgium

• Coronavirus

• Health and medicine

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