Quick shopping before the stores have to close their doors for six weeks: there are long queues for non-essential stores at various places in the country. Just like after the previous lockdown, it is mainly chains such as Ikea, Action and Primark that are used.
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Ikea in Zaventem has been very busy since Saturday morning: customers were soon lining up far in the parking lot to shop one last time before the store has to close its doors. ‘Zaventem is indeed the frontrunner at the moment,’ says spokeswoman Julie Stordiau. ‘We don’t know why. Apparently, the people in that region still need office supplies for working from home more than elsewhere. Because that is what is mainly sold. There are traffic jams at the other branches, but not as big as in Zaventem. We have not even been able to count the number of participants anymore. ‘
It is also busy at other Ikea stores, such as in Antwerp. ‘We call on us to respect each other and our employees and ask for patience. We will keep a close eye on the number of square meters per customer. Normally there is the rule of 10 square meters per customer, but to ensure a smooth flow we currently use 20 square meters in the shops. So fewer customers are allowed in, depending on the surface. Each store decides this itself, ‘says Stordiau.
This morning there was also a long queue of customers at the Action branch on Hasseltweg in Genk who wanted to fill their basket one more time. Genk is not alone: Action stores in Schoten, Beringen, Tongeren and Pelt are also waiting for a long time. There are also queues for the Primark clothing chain in Hasselt and Antwerp. Action and Primark do not have a webshop, and it is not yet clear whether collection will be possible in the next six weeks.
After this weekend, non-essential stores will have to close – there is only the option to organize takeout. That is why queues are also expected at garden centers, do-it-yourself stores, furniture stores and toy stores during the day. At the Lego store in the Wijnegem Shopping Center, for example, it takes a long time to queue.
‘Don’t do that anyway’
The experts are now concerned about these queues. ‘We can turn the tide, but then we have to obey the rules. We absolutely must not cut corners now. When I see that there are already long queues at the shops, I think “don’t do that right now”, says infectiologist Erika Vlieghe.
Bart De Wever, mayor of Antwerp, also calls for strict compliance with the measures. “For many, it may be their last chance to go shopping this weekend,” he says. ‘In addition, tomorrow will be shopping Sunday in Antwerp and all shops in the historic center will be open. May I therefore ask everyone, with urge, to strictly follow all corona rules regarding shopping. Do not come with more people than allowed, keep your distance and wear a mouth mask. The police will check this extra this weekend ‘, he says Gazet van Antwerp.
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