Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Crew received a court ruling in a statement Wednesday, dating back to a previous decision to close theaters, cinemas and other cultural institutions amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. He said he would resume.
The reversal took place just days after the government announced a new restricted slate aimed at stopping the spread of new Omicron variants and ordered the closure of many of the city’s cultural centers.
“We will continue to closely track the evolution of the pandemic in our country, where Omicron dominates,” De Crew said. Said Following the council on Twitter.
Last week’s restrictions were met with a protest in Brussels and a legal objection from theater producer Matthew Pinte. And on Tuesday, the State Council, the State’s Supreme Administrative Court, suspended its decision to close the cultural sector. The court did not show in its ruling that the government “as long as cultural institutions promote the spread of the coronavirus and as long as it is necessary to order closure, cultural sites are particularly dangerous to human health and life.” Said that.
This decision has led many to expect the government to abolish some of the latest measures.
“This is a victory,” theater director Luc Petit told Belgian television station LN24 on Wednesday. “Justice listened to us.”
But he added, the sector will still face economic loss.
Theaters and cinemas are allowed to reopen, but the maximum capacity is limited to 200 people. Visitors must also present a valid COVID pass, stay seated and wear a mask for the duration of the show.
The Belgian professional sports department wants them to apply similar measures. Currently, indoor sporting events are held without fans.
On Tuesday, Belgian Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke expressed some resistance to the expected reversal. He supported resuming cultural activities under strict restrictions, saying “only provided that the epidemic proved to be manageable and the health care system was not expected to be overloaded.”
In Belgium, the COVID-19 infection rate has declined slightly, with 557 positive cases per million recorded on Tuesday and 3 deaths per million. A total of 75.6 percent of Belgians are fully vaccinated.
The government will meet again next week to discuss further health measures protocols in the cultural sector.
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