Covid-19: in Belgium, bookstores remain open "to preserve mental health"
Audio 01:16
A woman browsing the shelves of a bookstore in Brussels, June 11, 2020. Francisco Seco / AP Photo
Text by: RFI Follow
5 mins
There are countries where the book is considered an essential product in times of confinement.
This is the case in Belgium, where bookstores are open.
No controversy like in France, where it is now impossible to buy a book without going through the internet.
Belgian booksellers are delighted with this decision by their government.
Publicity
Read more
With our special
correspondent in Liège,
Alexis Bedu
Manu Pecqueux runs the All Directions bookstore, right in the city center of Liège.
“
I want articles that are popular right now,” he
laughs to say.
People can't travel, and I sell travel books.
Finally, I sell other things: beautiful books, cookbooks, travelogues that allow people to travel by proxy.
Given the orientation of the bookstore, attendance is what it is.
But overall I'm happy to be here
.
".
► To read also: Reconfinement: bookstores are closing, book shelves in supermarkets too
"It allows you to escape, to think, to reflect"
Bookstores were closed during the first confinement.
But, for this second episode, the government decided to leave them open to "
preserve the mental health of the Belgians
".
Catherine Victor is a bookseller at Pax, one of the largest independent bookstores in the city: "
You no longer have theaters, no more museums, no more cinemas ... There is at least an opening on culture with books. .
It's still a product that allows you to escape, to think, to reflect.
I think the book is indeed important for mental health.
It gets us off the TV
!
"
The Liégeois rushed to bookstores at the start of confinement, a week ago.
The craze has fallen a bit since.
But booksellers are counting on the feast of Saint Nicholas in early December, where books should be numerous among the gifts.
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