The outer plan can come into effect from 8 May if the vaccination campaign continues in the same way, Prime Minister De Croo confirms. However, initial reactions to the cautious relaxation for catering and events have been mixed. The events industry is calling the plan an uppercut, the cafes still see a lot of uncertainty and the virologists who had argued not to relax, fear that four people from four different bubbles sitting at one table is very dangerous for the pandemic. Only Horeca Vlaanderen and the Belgian Brewers are mainly satisfied.
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The new decisions of the Consultation Committee hurt. A lot of pain ”, responds Heidi Vermander from the Sound of Silence interest group (SOS). “The last glimmer of hope in the event sector was extinguished with a loud bang on Friday evening. This is a new uppercut. As an industry we understand that events are not for the here and now, but after all the sacrifices and efforts we have made over the past fourteen months, we had at least hoped for a perspective. We have been kept on a leash for fourteen months, ”Vermander emphasizes.
“The decisions of the Consultation Committee do not provide clarity for the important summer months and autumn. This lack of a long-term perspective is incomprehensible, ”adds Frederik Sioen of the Culture crisis unit to it. “Preparation time is so characteristic of the sector. The lack of clarity cannot be justified. This is dramatic for the entire industry. How can we start planning now? You don’t put an event together on the corner of a table in fifteen minutes, ”says Bruno Schaubroeck from Event Confederation, representative of the events industry.
Half-hearted solutions for catering
For the time being, there is also no cheer from the café owners. “These are half-hearted solutions,” says Erik Beunckens from the Federation of Belgian Cafés. “It is incomprehensible that the terraces have to be closed as early as 10 pm, although the ban on gathering together does not take effect until midnight. That is then another two hours that people can hang out, ”says Beunckens. “Closing at 11pm or 11.30pm would have made a lot more sense to me. It seems as if an hour was cut off as a compromise, but that last hour saves us a sip on the drink. ” In addition, many things remain unclear, according to Beunckens. “Can we cover a terrace because of the erratic weather conditions? Are tents allowed that are open on two sides? ”He wonders.
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Horeca Flanders responds much more positively. “We are relieved,” says director Matthias De Caluwe. He is especially pleased that the rules are less strict than in the Netherlands. There the terraces have to close at 6 pm. “We will do everything we can to receive people safely. We can be a partner of enforcement. ”
There is also cautious cheers among the Belgian Brewers. “Finally, the catering industry is offered a concrete perspective”, the Belgian Brewers say. “The reopening with clear protocols is the best support measure for this sector. It is a first important economic step. ” However, it is emphasized that the full reopening of the catering industry as soon as possible is “crucial” for the sector.
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Virologists did not want to relax
The virologists have pleaded to the Consultation Committee not to relax on May 8. Logical, thinks Margot Cloet, top woman of Zorgnet-Icuro. “Normally, there should be no relaxation in this situation”. Same sound with Professor of General Practice Dirk Devroey. “This is asking for a situation that will no longer be manageable. I’m afraid we wasted our summer today. ” Virologist Marc Van Ranst therefore calls for caution. “Four people from four different bubbles without a mouth mask close to each other around a table, that’s a risk,” he said on VTM on Friday evening. His colleague Steven Van Gucht follows him completely. “Sitting at the table with four different people still entails more risks than meeting four people in the open air, one and a half meters apart”. The virologist said this on VRT NWS on Friday. Van Gucht therefore recommends that you only sit with the members of your household or with your close contact at the table on an outside patio. “At the moment we still have to avoid seeing too many different people and mixing too many different people. May 8 is still a bit too early for that. ” Biostatistician Geert Molenberghs
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