“If that can be done within a safe framework, we must ensure that non-essential stores can reopen”. Flemish Minister of Economy Hilde Crevits (CD&V) answered this Wednesday in the Flemish Parliament to a question from Flemish MP Kurt Vanryckeghem (CD&V).
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On Friday, the Consultation Committee will consider whether and under what conditions non-essential stores may also be reopened. At the announcement of the second lockdown, a month ago, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open Vld) already announced that there would be an evaluation of the closure of the non-essential stores by December 1. In several neighboring countries, the shops have since remained open or are reopening.
If it depends on Flemish Minister of Economy Hilde Crevits, the non-essential shops must be given “perspective” and it must also be possible for them to reopen, provided that it can be done safely. The precise conditions under which this should be done is still under discussion.
The core of the Flemish government had a meeting with representatives of the retail sectors on Wednesday morning. “There is a very high demand to be able to reopen very soon, as December is an important month. But there is also an enormous sense of responsibility to do this in a safe way, ”says Crevits. According to the minister, a reopening is only possible under conditions that ensure that the virus is not spread further. “Because much worse than exercising patience is relapsing again”.
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