Experts denounce Bart de Wever’s decision not to buy Sunday … (Antwerp)

Antwerp –

Shopping Sunday in Antwerp will continue tomorrow, despite several calls from virologists to be extra careful this weekend, now that the number of infections breaks all records. Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke (SP.A) calls on customers: “Don’t do it, it’s dangerous.”

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In a video message that Antwerp mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA) posted online on Saturday afternoon, he explicitly calls on visitors to Sunday shopping to keep sufficient distance from each other and to wear a mouth mask. The police will also supervise this, his spokesperson added: “The higher authorities decided that the new rules only take effect on Sunday evening. Just like in other cities, the shops in the tourist center of the city are open on Sunday. The local police will be present en masse and will monitor compliance with the mouth mask obligation, the waiver rules and the prohibition of gathering together. In case of excessive crowds, immediate action will be taken. ”

The fact that De Wever is not canceling the shopping Sunday, goes wrong with many people. The rector of Ghent University, among others, explicitly appealed to De Wever on Saturday afternoon, and by extension all other municipal authorities that have a shopping Sunday tomorrow, to cancel this extra shopping day. “Not now,” said Rector Van De Walle, referring to the sky-high contamination figures that were announced on Saturday.

Doctor and epidemiologist Wouter de Arrazola de Onate also fears that such an extra shopping day could have far-reaching consequences: “For a virus, 1 day can make the difference. Please do not organize events now that could cause a super spread. ”

Or as biostatistician Geert Molenberghs (UHasselt) put it, when he was confronted on Saturday afternoon with the images of, among other things, a large crowd of people in Rue Neuve in Brussels: “So many people are infected today that statistically speaking, in such a long queue at a shop someone who carries the virus. Do not do that.”

That is also what Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke (SP.A) says in VTM News about shopping on Sundays in Antwerp and some coastal municipalities. “We really don’t like that. Put a hundred people together, and you can be sure there are people among them who are infected, even if they have no symptoms of disease. This is dangerous. And not necessary either, because shops will still remain open. In addition, all stores will be able to organize pick-up. So don’t do it if it’s not really necessary. ”

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