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Coronavirus: Cinemas and theatres must close, new limits on shopping
Cinemas, theatres and concert halls must close on Sunday (26 December), and Christmas markets cannot use marquees or tents, Belgium's coronavirus consultative committee has ruled.
Indoor amusement parks and play areas must also close - but museums, libraries and swimming pools can stay open. Party and banqueting facilities can only cater for weddings and funerals.
Shopping should be done in groups of no more than two adults. Christmas markets can only go ahead outdoors - anything under a marquee must close. Indoor and outdoor sports fixtures must be played without spectators.
"We should be worried about the omicron variant," said prime minister Alexander De Croo. "It is much more contagious. We have to be cautious.
"After a year of effort, when many of us were vaccinated, we hoped for a different Christmas. But think about last Christmas - cafes, shops and hairdressers were closed.
"This year we can see each other - but with the greatest caution."
The consultative committee will meet again in January.
Comments
Always adding restrictions, instead of enforcing the rules in place.
In short, we'll have to continue being packed like sardines in trams, buses, metro trains, with many people without a mask or a mask that covers just their chin. With a police too lazy and Stib-Mivb security too scared of enforcing the rules, that's how it is.
In many Brussels restaurants, you see 12 or more people at the same table, staff not wearing masks, patrons walking around with a glass, unmasked... (yes, I'm looking at you, food market that I won't name...).
But theatres? OMG! The government thinks they're evil!