BRUSSELS – Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said Friday that the country faces a few “crucial weeks” as the number of coronavirus infections rise, and that the government has decided to pause its plans to gradually ease restrictions.
Obligatory mask-wearing outdoors, night-time curfews and restaurant and bar closures have been in place since the start of November.
A ban on non-essential travel is also in effect. The plan had been to offer some relief to long-suffering citizens by resuming some outdoor activities from April 1. “We are pressing the pause button,” De Croo told reporters.
Earlier Friday, health authorities said the number of confirmed new daily infections had risen by a third over the past seven days, to reach 3,226 on