Any changes to Belgium's coronavirus fighting measures that could be made today, will be made with "extreme caution," Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced.
Belgium's Consultative Committee will meet digitally from 2:00 PM today to assess the country's coronavirus situation, De Croo's cabinet confirmed to The Brussels Times.
The possible reopening of hairdressers and other non-medical contact professions will be discussed. However, opinions on such a relaxation are divided, with many politicians supporting a reopening, while most experts remain cautious.
Whether or not it will be possible for holiday parks and zoos to receive people again also be evaluated, as was announced during the previous press conference.
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In the House on Thursday afternoon, De Croo stressed that "safety will be the top priority," stressing that decisions will not be taken lightly. "Extreme caution will be our guiding principle."
Should the Committee decide that non-medical contact professions, or part of them, can open, "that would not be the announcement of a whole series of reopenings and relaxations," he said. "Let that be clear."
Morgen komt het Overlegcomité samen. Uiterste voorzichtigheid zal daarbij onze leidraad zijn. pic.twitter.com/hr2ej5vC2E
— Alexander De Croo (@alexanderdecroo) February 4, 2021
De Croo acknowledged that the population's "social needs" also play a part in the decision process, referring to schools and companies, which play a large social function, in addition to the educational and economic aspects.
"Of course, the discussion about the non-medical contact professions has an economic component, but let's face it, there is also a social component which, in my opinion, is at least as important," he said.
Unlike with previous meetings that were held digitally, today's Consultative Committee will also be followed by a press conference to announce the decisions that were made.
Maïthé Chini
The Brussels Times
