Nightclubs in Belgium to reopen from 19th February

Nightclubs and bars in Belgium will be given permission to reopen without restrictions from this Saturday, 19th February.

The news comes as a number of coronavirus restrictions are eased across Belgium following months of renewed measures in response to the spread of the Omicron variant of the virus. 

From this weekend, restaurants and bars will be allowed to open all day, while children under 12 will no longer have to wear face masks. The easing of some restrictions is part of the Belgian Government’s decision to move its alert level from code red, the highest, to code orange.

“We can start easing several measures,” said Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. “There will be no closing time in bars and restaurants anymore and no more limits on how many people can sit together at a table.”

Outside activities, such as festivals and outdoor concerts, can also return to operating with significantly more relaxed measures than before.

Infections in Belgium in the week ending 7th February fell by 44% compared to the previous week. New hospitalisations and intensive care cases have also started to decline and that trend is continuing.

The easing of measures follows a plan by many clubs in Brussels, announced last week, to ignore Government measures and open anyway from 18th February as they felt they were being unfairly targeted in having to remain fully closed. This protest will no longer be needed.