Following a tense discussion at today's consultation committee, a set of more restrictive measures to combat COVID-19 has been announced by Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. Belgium is now entering phase 4: a "very serious" alert phase.

De Croo stated that the Belgian health situation is alarming with the figures being significantly higher today than what was seen in March and April and all indicators continuing to increase.

The main new measures are:

• The Social Bubble: Your close contact bubble should be reduced to one person.
• Teleworking to become the norm: when this is not possible, every effort must be made to protect employees
• All Horeca establishments (cafes, bars, restaurants) will close for one month, with an evaluation within two weeks to see if the measure should remain in place. This measure should come into force on Monday. A support plan is being proposed for the sector.
• Small-scale markets may remain open with a maximum of 200 people. However, the Christmas markets are canceled.
• Alcohol sales will be prohibited from 20h00.
• A curfew will be adopted from midnight to 05h00.

"We realize that these measures are very harsh, even unfair. But unfortunately the virus is also unfair, it affects us all and in particular the oldest people. The virus affects our society in a particularly hard way," said the Prime Minister. "But the time to act is now".