Belgium eases lockdown, plans to open terraces in May

<p>BRUSSELS &mdash; Belgium is planning to reopen restaurants and bars for outdoor service next month and to lift a night-time curfew as new COVID-19 cases continue to go down in the country.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Alexander De Croo made the announcement on Wednesday following a seven-hour meeting with regional leaders who struggled to find a compromise.</p>
<p>Bars and restaurants have been shut down since mid-October because of the pandemic but their owners have been lobbying to reopen and protesting in recent weeks. Barring a new surge in cases, De Croo said they will be authorized to reopen their terraces from May 8, but customers won’t be served indoors.</p>
<p>“Hospitals remain under presser in intensive care,” De Croo said. “We have opted for a careful and realistic approach largely based on confidence.”</p>
<p>The number of new coronavirus infections has dropped 19% over the past seven days and De Croo said a peak might have been reached. But the situation in hospitals remains critical. </p>
<p>Belgium will also lift a ban on non-essential travel abroad from next week, but the government continues to advise against such trips. </p>
<p>“I want to stress that this is really not the moment to start travelling.” De Croo said.</p>
<p>After a three-week shutdown that covered the Easter holidays, schools will open again next Monday, but some classes will be organized remotely.</p>
<p>Non-essential shop owners will be authorized to welcome customers without appointments from April 26, when hair salons and tattoo shops can reopen. </p>
<p>A total of 23,566 people have died from coronavirus-related causes in Belgium, a country of 11.5 million that was among the hardest-hit globally when the pandemic broke. </p>
<p>A further easing of lockdown is expected in June when a large majority of people over 65 will have been vaccinated.</p>
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