Belgium reopens businesses as deconfinement enters phase 1B

Belgium entered phase 1B of the COVID-19 deconfinement on Monday, with businesses throughout the country allowed to reopen under strict conditions.

The reopening came one day after the expansion of social contacts, which allows people to receive up to four guests, family members or close friends, in each home visit.

The reopening of shops takes place in strict compliance with the rules of deconfinement, in particular a 1.5 metres social distance, a maximum of 30 minutes stay and wearing a mask.

To avoid crowds, everyone has to do shopping alone. An exception will be tolerated for children under 18 years old, who could be accompanied by a parent, and persons requiring assistance.

Excursions and tourist activities remain prohibited. Gatherings are also prohibited. Contact occupations other than medical and paramedical care will remain closed for the time being. Cafes, bars, restaurants, and places for festivities, recreation, culture and tourism will remain closed at this stage as well.

Over the last 24 hours, 368 new cases of COVID-19 infection had been reported in Belgium, bringing the country's total confirmed cases since the beginning of the epidemic to 53,449, said the public health institute Sciensano on Monday.

Meanwhile, 60 new hospitalizations had been recorded, and 55 people had left hospitals.

Within the past 24 hours, 62 new deaths had been reported, pushing the country's death toll from the coronavirus-cased disease to 8,707.

The general downward trend of the COVID-19 crisis can be observed both in terms of hospitalizations, which remain below 100, and in terms of deaths, according to Yves Van Laethem, inter-federal spokesman for COVID-19.

This downward trend persists at the intensive care level, where the number of patients has fallen to 478. This is a decrease of 5 percent per day over the last week's calculation, according to Yves Laethem.

The health crisis is showing signs of abating, but the social crisis is looming. The Belgian newspaper Le Soir reported on Monday that the requests for additional aid are expected to increase by 30 percent for the months of April, May and June.