On Friday 30 October 2020, a week after announcing nationwide restrictions including a night-time curfew and the closure of restaurants, etc., Belgium has announced a second national lockdown from Monday 2 November 2020.
The latest COVID-19 figures show the the Kingdom of Belgium has the highest infection rate in Europe and its death rate is second only to the Czech Republic in the EU (11,300+ people have died in the country of around 11.5 million). The decision to announce a second lockdown comes as a compromise between the country's federal and regional governments which have sometimes pursued different policies during the crisis.
More than half of the 2,000 beds in its intensive care units (ICU) are already occupied by COVID-19 patients.
Non-essential shops and businesses offering personal services such as hairdressers will close from Monday 2 Novermber until 13 December. All gatherings in public spaces must be limited to a maximum of four people. Supermarkets can only sell essential goods and households are allowed just one visitor.
Autumn school holidays have also been extended until 15 November.
The existing night-time curfew measures and closures of bars and restaurants will remain in place.
Belgium's doctors with coronavirus has been asked to keep working.
