Children and teenagers should still stick to just one hobby per week, despite the relaxations of rules regarding the number of people they can see for group activities, according to the Flemish government.
After Friday’s Consultative Committee stated that children up to the age of 13 can participate in organised indoor activities with a maximum of 10 others and in organised outdoor activities with a maximum of 25, it was unclear whether the rule would remain in place.
"Mixing many groups of different children ensures that the virus can spread faster. Therefore, it remains wise and solidary to make a choice in your after-school contacts and to keep them to a minimum,” Flemish ministers have said.
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Flemish Ministers for Culture, Sports, and Youth Jan Jambon, Ben Weyts, and Benjamin Dalle said this measure would remain in place until the Easter Holidays, adding that it is not the responsibility of associations to monitor the number of members.
The recommendation of children choosing one hobby per week was made at the end of January this year when it became clear that the number of infections among children and young people was increasing.
The ministers told Flemish public broadcaster VRT that the measure had been well observed since it was put in place and that it has played a role in helping to reduce the number of infections among children and young people.
"We are very grateful to the many parents and children who have heeded this call," the Flemish ministers said. "We realise that this is not easy and can sometimes lead to difficult choices; however, we must not lose sight of the fact that this recommendation was not made without reason."
Lauren Walker
The Brussels Times
