The cafes and restaurants close at 11 pm, the gatherings inside are limited. Measures criticized in the economic world but deemed insufficient by virologists.
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A third test in the space of three weeks, a third wave of criticism: divided between party, regions and advocates of a particular interest group, the Belgian politicians met again, Friday, December 3, for Attempt to stem a wave of recording contaminations in Northern Europe. Barely known, their decisions have aroused the skepticism of many experts. The Federal Minister of Health, Frank Vandenbroucke, itself has evoked a “disappointing compromise”.
The consultation between the different levels of power, however, led to some notable decisions and, first, the obligation of the port of the mask for schoolchildren over 6 years, including in classes. The latter will have to be equipped with a CO 2 meter and will be closed as soon as two cases of contamination will be recorded.
Specialists recommended an immediate closure of schools for ten days, including the impact of contamination on other sectors: infected with their children, parents are massively absent in transportation, the health sector, EHPAD, etc. The positivity rate of the youngest children is currently close to the 25% mark. School directions and ministers, however, opposed the idea of a complete “lockout” establishments. In colleges and high schools, less affected, courses will be given in hybrid mode as early as Monday, December 6th. Universities will be known next week.
Regulated interior events
Viologists also recommended the closure of restaurants and cafes at 19 hours or 20 hours. Current decisions (closing from 11pm to 5 hours, mandatory sanitary pass) are maintained: no question of penalting a heavily hit (and widely helped) sector previously.
All interior events gathering more than two hundred people will be banned from Saturday. And those with fewer than two hundred participants will have only seats and set a distance of 1.50 meters between groups. “Unjust, I plead for these measures to not be applied,” reacted Peter de Caluwe, the director of the currency, the Brussels opera.
There was no question, on the other hand, for the authorities, to touch outside events. It is only asked the organizers to “manage the crowd” and local authorities to organize controls, rather rare so far. The threat of closed session on football meetings is adjourned, unlike the recommendations of infectiologists. “The environment is safe,” said the professional league in a statement also evoking, Thursday, the risk of the financial impact for clubs and that of many job losses.
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