Categories: GlobalLatest

Coronavirus: Belgium Announces Return to National Lockdown

Belgium has announced a return to a national lockdown as the latest coronavirus figures show it has the highest infection rate in Europe. Non-essential shops and businesses offering personal services like hair salons have been ordered to close from Monday until the middle of December.

Any gatherings in public spaces must be limited to a maximum of four people. Supermarkets can only sell essential goods and households are allowed just one visitor.

Autumn school holidays have also been extended until November 15. The existing night-time curfew measures and closures of bars and restaurants will remain in place.

Belgium suffered one of the highest death rates in the world during the first wave of the pandemic in the spring.

It now has the highest infection rate in Europe with more than half of the 2,000 beds in its intensive care units (ICU) already occupied by Covid patients.

 On Friday, Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said the country “finds itself in a health emergency”.

“The pressure on our hospitals is huge,” he said, while announcing the new measures, adding: “These are last-chance measures if we want to get the figures down.”

Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said the new lockdown “will not plunge people into isolation”.

“It’s a lockdown, but a lockdown that allows factories to operate, that will allow schools to open cautiously,” he said.

There have been 1,600 infections and 8.4 deaths per 100,000 people in the last 14 days, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

The decision is a compromise between Belgium’s federal and regional governments which have sometimes pursued different policies during the crisis.

Belgium’s death rate is second only to the Czech Republic in the EU. More than 11,300 people have died in the country of around 11.5 million.

Much of Europe is battling with soaring infection rates.

France is now in a new national lockdown that will last at least a month. Schools and workplaces remain open, but people need permits to leave home.

Germany will introduce “lockdown light” measures on Monday, with tighter restrictions on people’s movements, though not as tough as the Belgian and French regimes.

Poland now has its highest level of restrictions to date, with public gatherings banned, most schools closed and restaurants and cafes only offering take-away service.

 

Follow us on:

AriseNews

Recent Posts

Honda, Nissan Eye Major Merger, Aim to Finalise Deal by 2025

Honda and Nissan plan a merger to create the world’s third-largest automaker, aiming to finalise…

52 seconds ago

Trump Chooses Ex-Bank President As Latin America Envoy Despite Alleged Affair Scandal

Trump has selected ex-bank president Mauricio Claver-Carone as Latin America envoy, despite past misconduct allegations…

4 minutes ago

Trump Threatens to Take Control of Panama Canal Over ‘Exorbitant’ Fees in Fiery Speech

Trump has demanded Panama reduce Canal fees or return it to US control, sparking backlash…

7 minutes ago

Ex-US Marine Pilot Daniel Duggan to Be Extradited to US Over Alleged Illegal Training of Chinese Pilots

Australia has approved the extradition of ex-marine Daniel Duggan, facing US charges for allegedly training…

9 minutes ago

Trump Nominates Billion Dollar Buyer Host Tilman Fertitta as US Ambassador to Italy

Donald Trump has selected businessman Tilman Fertitta, owner of the Houston Rockets, to serve as…

1 hour ago

Ten Family Members Die in Private Plane Crash in Brazil

A plane crash in Gramado, Brazil, killed ten family members, including businessman Luiz Claudio Galeazzi,…

1 hour ago