LBelgium has gone into “enhanced” phase 2 since Monday to fight the Covid-19 epidemic. Tuesday were discussed measures of “social distance” to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, said Ms. Wilmès.
It is recommended to cancel the events of 1,000 and more people inside, announced Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès. It is not a total ban because only the bourgmestre can make the effective decision to cancel, said Ms. Wilmès. The governors and mayors will have to “operationalize this decision”.
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Public transport
On the business side, work can continue but the authorities are encouraging companies to organize more telework. “If smaller or not-so-essential meetings are scheduled, we recommend that they be postponed or held in other ways such as teleconferencing. Companies are also asked to be flexible on working hours. “By leaving earlier or arriving later, we avoid having too many people on public transport,” noted Sophie Wilmès. “Obviously there is no problem using public transport” but this will prevent them from being overloaded.
Doctors
Due to the exceptional circumstances linked to the new coronavirus epidemic, doctors will be able to provide patients with a medical certificate after a telephone consultation, the National Council of the College of Physicians said on Tuesday.
In Brussels
The Brussels authorities (region and municipalities) have taken a series of ban measures, starting from Wednesday and until March 31 (at least).
• Gatherings
Most spectacularly, all gatherings of more than a thousand people in indoor places will be prohibited. This concerns, first and foremost, the shows organized in a hall reaching this gauge. Notably Forest National, Palais 12, Ancienne Belgique (except the Club), Cirque Royal, Madeleine, La Monnaie, Bozar, Flagey … A priori, closure will be required, unless the rooms reduce their capacity under a thousand. The appropriate communication should follow in the next few hours.
Same instructions for the evenings organized, in particular, by nightclubs. Job Fair Brussels, originally scheduled for Thursday March 12 from 1 to 7 p.m. at Palais 10 at Brussels Expo, has also been postponed to a later date.
The 28th edition of Seafood Expo Global, which was to be held for the last time in Brussels from April 21 to 23 at Brussels Expo, has been postponed. The new date of the meeting will be communicated no later than March 18.
The Wilink Game, the basketball match organized each season by Brussels at Forest National, scheduled for Friday March 20 has been postponed. The match will take place on April 26.
• Rest homes
Another measure: the prohibition, with some exceptions, on visits to Brussels nursing homes. Note that outdoor sporting events are maintained; indoor can take place as long as there are less than 1,000 spectators.
• Schools
The Regional Security Council also advises against school trips abroad until Easter, in all establishments in the capital. For schools, it is not recommended that they close, even if contamination is detected there.
In Wallonia
Barely out of the Security Council held in Brussels, the Walloon Minister-President Elio Di Rupo and the Minister of Health Christie Morreale brought together the provincial governors in Namur. Objective: operationalize the federal recommendations.
• Rest homes
The strongest measure concerns the 602 rest homes in Wallonia: from this Wednesday until March 31, visits are prohibited and outings subject to a strict regime.
At the same time, “we will ask the teams in place in these establishments to show the greatest humanity and to do everything possible so that people can continue to communicate with their loved ones by telephone, skype or even by organized video-conferences” said Christie Morreale.
• Gatherings
In addition, the governors are responsible for issuing police orders which will prohibit gatherings of more than 1,000 people in closed places. The mayors and the police will be responsible for enforcing these measures.
The SIEP exhibition on studies, training and trades, which the Halles des Foires de Liège was to host from 12 to 14 March has also been canceled. The 38th edition of Boeuf Gras de Mouscron is also canceled.
The City of Mons intends to apply the federal government’s instructions regarding coronavirus to the letter. The mayor of Mons, Nicolas Martin (PS), wants consistency among all the mayors of Hainaut. “A meeting of all the mayors of the province will be organized with this in mind Thursday with the governor of Hainaut, Tommy Leclercq. Good coordination is very important. ”
At the level of sports and cultural organizations, the bar of 1,000 people will be respected. “This particularly concerns basketball and Mons-Hainaut at the Mons Arena, of which we will limit the tonnage to 1,000 spectators,” said Nicolas Martin. “On the other hand, outdoor sports and cultural activities are maintained. For the Lotto Mons Expo, the gauge of planned activities and exhibitions will also be limited to 1,000 and any events canceled. Contacts will be made with the organizers to assess what needs to be done. “
In Namur, the organizers of the “Living the city” event around the theme “How to design a sustainable digital policy? “A total of 170 people were expected, but the co-organizer UNamur asked that the event be postponed until September 24 to avoid the rallies.
• Awareness campaign
A public awareness campaign is also being finalized.
“Our goal is to delay the spread of the virus as much as possible. We know there will be a peak but we want it to be as low as possible, “concluded Elio Di Rupo.
In Flanders
Bart De Wever, as mayor of Antwerp, said on Tuesday evening that he could not ban any event solely on the basis of advice, following the recommendation of the federal government. N-VA president says he awaits the outcome of discussions between Governor Cathy Berx and Interior Minister Pieter De Crem. The Antwerp hall De Roma has already announced that all the activities planned there will take place normally.
• Schools
The Flemish Ministry of Education said on Tuesday that activities such as open days, school holidays, school trips and visits to health centers must be canceled. However, swimming lessons and outings can take place as planned. Contacts with parents can be made by telephone and it is recommended that parents limit interactions between children and grandparents, a group of people at risk.
• Rest homes
Visiting hours will be limited in particular, visitors will only be able to access it via a single entry and will have to leave their data in a register. In addition, they will not be able to go to the cafeteria. Children under the age of 16 will no longer be able to go to rest homes immediately, but a total ban on visits for adults – as decided by certain establishments and by Wallonia – is not yet in place. agenda.
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