Belgium invokes ‘rule of four’ for month
• Café sandbars in Brussels will close for a month, it was announced Wednesday, after Belgium said it would introduce a nationwide “rule of four.”
It came as Berlin introduced a curfew to curb rising coronavirus infections.
Belgium saw a 57 per cent increase in infections from Sept. 27 to Oct. 3 with an average of 87 people admitted to hospital every day. Over the past week, 2,466 people a day tested positive for COVID-19.
Brussels has the highest number of infections in Belgium and the second highest in Europe, with fewer cases than Madrid but more than in Paris.
The capital’s mayors decided to impose stricter restrictions than elsewhere in Belgium, closing all cafés and bars for a month starting Thursday.
Drinking in public places is banned, but restaurants can remain open.
Nationwide restrictions announced on Tuesday ordered bars and cafés to close early at 11 p.m.
“The objective was to have the clearest possible measures,” said Rudi Vervoort, the Brussels minister-president, after a meeting of local leaders.
The Belgian government said social bubbles would shrink from five to four people as it set out stricter restrictions that start Thursday and last for a month.
Meetings outside are limited to four people, home gatherings restricted to four visitors, and cafés limited to four per table unless people live together.
Said Prime Minister Alexander De Croo: “We can see that the spread of the virus is accelerating considerably. We need to stop that acceleration as soon as possible.”
The entire regional government of Wallonia announced it was going into quarantine on Wednesday after the minister of tourism tested positive.
Meanwhile, in Berlin, an 11 p.m. curfew for restaurants, pub sand shops and a nighttime “rule of five” have been imposed amid concern at rising COVID-19 cases.
A limit of five will be imposed on all outdoor gatherings from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m ., but will not apply indoors. Pharmacies and petrol stations will be exempt but will not be allowed to sell alcohol.
Berlin has one of the highest weekly infection rates in Germany, with 40.5 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared with just 17.8 nationwide.
Up to 50 people will be allowed to gather outdoors by day, while indoor gatherings will be limited to 10 day and night.
“I ask everyone to consider what the situation would be if we do not act decisively,” said Mayor Michael Muller of Berlin.
“Sooner or later we would get into a situation where we would be forced to take much tougher measures such as a lockdown.”
Restrictions are decided at a regional level in Germany, and vary considerably around the country.