17 October 2020: Belgium is further tightening its measures to stop the rising coronavirus infections, hospital admissions and deaths

17 October 2020: Update on The Corona Pandemic – The number of infections continues to rise every day, and very rapidly. During the week between 6 and 12 October an average of 5,976 people tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus every day. Our doctors and hospitals are under heavy pressure. To stop the rising coronavirus infections, hospital admissions and deaths, the government announced yesterday following new measures that will become effective as of Monday:

• We will be allowed to have one close contact, outside our own household.
• We will be allowed to invite up to 4 guests, always the same ones, changing every two weeks. 
• Teleworking becomes mandatory there where possible 
• Bars and restaurants will close for four weeks.
• There will be a ban installed on selling alcohol after 8:00 PM
• A curfew will be implemented, prohibiting us from leaving our homes for non-essential reasons between midnight and 5:00 AM​
  

These radical measures are probably long overdue, but it doesn’t detract from the fact that it’s going to be a long and dark winter – Damme, Bruges, Belgium