COVID-19 selected news snippets for Wednesday 3 June 2020 – Lockdown is easing from Monday!

The National Security Council (NSC) has met today (Wednesday 3 June) and confirms that Belgium will begin phase 3 of the COVID-19 lockdown easement from Monday 8 June

This means that from Monday:

• The rules on social contacts outside your home have been eased, allowing every individual to meet up to 10 people per week.
• Gatherings - at home, in a park or in a restaurant - will be allowed for up to 10 people, children included.
• Cafes, bars and restaurants can reopen from 8 June, with a 1.5 metre distance between tables and a maximum 10 people per table. Bar service will not be available and waiters must wear a mask.
• All restaurants must close by 1.00 in the morning. Night shops can also stay open until 1.00.
• Casinos can reopen from 1 July. Party venues can accommodate up to 50 people, from 1 July. Nightclubs will remain closed until the end of August.
• Sports activities can return to normal from 8 June, outdoors and indoors. Gyms will be allowed to reopen, provided safety distances are maintained.
• Contact sports remain banned. Swimming pools, spas remain closed for now. These should reopen from 1 July.
• Religious ceremonies are allowed from 8 June, with a maximum 100 people in attendance. This will be extended to 200 people from 1 July.
• Excursions within Belgium - a day trip or longer - can go ahead from 8 June. Cross-border travel within the EU should be allowed from 15 June.

Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès said the next phase would be "a crucial next step" in the easing of Belgium's coronavirus restrictions, and other stages would follow in July and August.

The basic safety rules remain in place: wash your hands, prioritise outdoor activities over indoors as much as possible, be extra careful around at-risk people, and maintain social distancing.

Remote working remains recommended wherever possible and large gatherings remain banned until 31 August.

Sciensano statistics update of 3 June. Just 70 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Belgium over the past 24 hours of which 6 (9%) were in Brussels. To date, a total of 58 685 confirmed cases have been reported in Belgium with 5 969 (10%) cases located in Brussels.

In the past 24 hours, only 31 patients with COVID-19 have been hospitalised and 25 people left hospital. Between 15 March and 2 June, a total of 17 354 patients with COVID-19 have entered hospital and 15 959 people have left.

17 new deaths from COVID-19 in Belgium have been reported in the past 24 hours of which none were in Brussels. To date, a total 9 522 deaths from the disease have been reported in Belgium of which 1 464 (15%) were in Brussels.

Currently 172 COVID-19 patients are in intensive care units in Belgian hospitals.

Read the daily report (in French) here.

Useful Links

Federal Government COVID-19 information

The Bulletin's COVID-19 webpage (updated daily)