Brussels bars and cafes must close for one month

All bars and cafes in the Brussels region must close tomorrow, Thursday 8 October, for one month, to limit the spread of coronavirus.

A regional crisis centre meeting was held in Brussels city hall on Wednesday morning, attended by the mayors of the region's 19 communes and Brussels minister-president Rudi Vervoort.

As well as cafes and bars selling drinks, the requirement to close also applies to buvettes serving drinks at sports clubs and inside cultural venues.

The consumption of alcohol in public places will be banned, to coincide with the one-month bar closure, which officially begins at 7.00 on Thursday morning.

Restaurants in the Brussels region can remain open, but can only serve customers who are dining.

Other measures announced on Wednesday include a ban on spectators at indoor amateur sports fixtures.

Party venues - for wedding receptions, for example - must close for a month. Casinos serving alcohol must close by 22.00.

"These are strong measures," Vervoort said, but added: "The goal is to keep as many public services open as possible."

A further meeting has been called for Friday to discuss the issue of schools in the Brussels region, Le Soir reports.