Belgium sticks to current Coronavirus restrictions amid cases surge

Belgium has decided not to ease Coronavirus restrictions for at least another week, due to a recent spike in COVID-19 cases, the country’s Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo announced on Friday, following a meeting of the Consultative Committee.

“I wish it was different, but this is to avoid making a decision at a time of uncertainty that would jeopardise everything we have achieved,” the Belgian PM said, stressing that any other decision could “jeopardise” the progress achieved in the country. 

He added that the Consultative Committee has decided to take a “kind of one week time-out”, whilst monitoring the situation. 

Belgium on Friday recorded a 24% rise in infections compared to the previous week, with a daily average of 2,300 cases detected. The UK variant of the virus is now the dominant strain in Belgium, which explains why COVID cases began to rise again, according to the country’s health authorities. 

“I remain convinced that the moment of relaxations is not far off, but we will have to wait now,” De Croo said before adding that the move “weighs on our minds and our mental capacity, I know. And I am fully aware that people are struggling.”