Brussels Tightens COVID-19 Restrictions as Cases Surge, Officials Seek Community Support

About 10% of tests are positive, twice the national average. Faced with this situation, the 19 Brussels mayors had to strengthen the measures in force on Saturday. This includes the closure of the hospitality industry at 11 pm (instead of 1 am as in the rest of the country), the wearing of masks and the ban on gatherings of more than ten people on public roads between 11 pm and 6 am.

"Stricter rules in Brussels will not be enough," said Steven Van Gucht, head of the Viral Diseases service at Sciensano, to Het Laatste Nieuws. According to him, what is important is the way the measures are "communicated to the different communities of the capital." "You can close the cafes earlier, but if people continue to party at home, you won’t achieve anything," argued the virologist. It is necessary to clearly explain the how and why of the measures to the different communities of the capital."

For the implementation of effective communication of the measures, the interfederal spokesperson calls for the involvement of new actors, such as imams or local influencers.