The Security Council only allows more people to attend events. ‘Unfortunately, a number of events took place at the beginning of July that were really not well organized,’ says infectiologist Erika Vlieghe. “So let’s go one step at a time.”
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In theaters, concert halls, sports halls and during other indoor activities, another 200 people will be allowed next month. For outdoor events, the maximum is increased to 400. If the competent minister gives permission, mayors can allow more people into halls. The culture sector crisis cell has already mentioned this ‘an unworkable framework’, and would have preferred to work with a maximum capacity of, for example, 60 percent.
“Their response surprises me, because we discussed it extensively yesterday,” says Vlieghe. ‘Culture does not stand alone. There are other events. We were concerned about events involving very large numbers of people. We wanted to avoid badly organized events with large numbers of people gathered in the short term. They pose a greater risk. ‘
The government has largely followed the experts’ proposals, Vlieghe says. ‘We thought it was especially important to emphasize that it is too early for major easing. The situation is still delicate. ‘
By enabling a coffee table for fifty people after a funeral, instead of ten so far, the politicians went further than the experts. ‘I can understand that, but it raises questions among others, for example about communion celebrations. That is always the difficulty, ‘says Vlieghe.
The infectiologist again took part in the security council, having previously decided not to participate anymore. That was in response to statements by Jan Jambon, who referred to her in an interview to defend a measure. According to Vlieghe, the Prime Minister put her words in her mouth. At the request of Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès she returned to the table, but she has not yet decided on future councils. ‘It remains a difficult relationship between politicians and scientists.’
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