The government is taking drastic action with a ‘stricter lockdown’ to counter the continued influx of corona patients into hospitals. All non-essential stores will have to close and stricter home visits will be introduced.
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To ensure that the population stays at home as much as possible, the federal and regional top ministers on the Consultation Committee have decided to further tighten the corona measures. The government is forced to lock up the country because the number of people with corona in the hospital continues to rise unabated.
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By mid-November, 10,000 people with Covid-19 will be in hospital and 2,800 in low or high-intensity care. Last week, 100,000 people were infected, ‘said Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open VLD). That is why the choice falls on a lockdown, as all politicians used to say. ‘Confinement without isolation’, said Walloon Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo (PS). “A tightened lockdown,” said De Croo. What do the measures entail in concrete terms?
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Getting around
Non-essential movements are not prohibited, unlike in the spring. But with teleworking becoming compulsory, closing shops selling non-essential goods and tightening up the rules for home visits, there are fewer reasons to travel.
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Contacts
Every family is allowed one close hugging contact to have. Other contacts are no longer allowed to come by at home. Until now, families were allowed to receive up to four people at home. Singles may have a second contact.
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Telework
Telework becomes mandatory where possible. Companies where that does not work, such as production companies, can continue to operate as long as the corona protocols are complied with.
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Stores
Only stores selling essential goods are allowed to remain open. Supermarkets and other food stores are included, as are the markets and pharmacists.
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Supermarkets are not allowed to offer goods that cannot be retailed either, so that you do not distort competition.
Jan Ham
Flemish Prime Minister (N-VA)
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The precise list of essential stores has yet to be finalized. It would be longer than in the spring, when it was limited to food stores and pharmacists. It is already clear that garden centers and DIY stores can remain open. Garages and bicycle shops are only allowed to carry out urgent repairs. The zoos must be closed.
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At stores that have to close, customers are allowed to pick up the products purchased online outside the store. Flemish Prime Minister Jan Jambon (N-VA) also made an appeal to ignore the large foreign commercial sites and to opt for local initiatives and our middle class. There will be an evaluation of the regime for the stores by December 1.
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According to Jambon, ‘supermarkets are not allowed to offer goods that cannot be offered in the retail trade, so that you do not get distorted competition.’
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Contact professions
Non-medical contact professions – think of hairdressers and grooming studios – must close their doors. The cleaning assistant may also continue to come, although they must provide themselves with the necessary protective clothing and keep a sufficient distance.
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Horeca
Even more striking: bars and restaurants in hotels must now also close. Until now they were allowed to remain open. Important for the autumn holidays next week: all holiday parks will be closed from 3 November. Until then, all indoor activities, such as bars, restaurants or swimming pools, will be closed.
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Funerals and Weddings
Funerals may still be attended by a maximum of fifteen people. Meals or receptions afterwards are prohibited. Marriages may only take place in the presence of spouses, witnesses and civil registrars.
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Education
The autumn holiday, which was already extended until Wednesday November 11, will be extended until Sunday November 15. Afterwards, the students return to school. For the second and third stages of secondary education, half will switch to distance learning. I am very concerned about the impact this will have on the most vulnerable young people. Ben Weyts Minister of Education (N-VA)
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I am very concerned about the impact this will have on the most vulnerable young people.
Ben Weyts
Minister of Education (N-VA)
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Flemish Minister of Education Ben Weyts (N-VA) regrets this and fears for the schools with vulnerable pupils. ‘I am very concerned about the impact this will have on the most vulnerable young people. Especially for those for whom the school is the only safe haven ‘
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Higher education will remain closed until the end of this year, except for practicals. From 1 December, first-year students can partially follow physical education again.
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To travel
Travel abroad is strongly discouraged, but not prohibited. The borders remain open.
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The new measures are going according to our information from Sunday night for 24 hours and last at least until December 13th.
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© BELGA
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