BRUSSELS, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Belgium switched the coronavirus barometer to "code orange" on Friday. The hospitality sector can resume its normal opening hours and nightclubs can reopen. All indoor and outdoor public events are also allowed. Teleworking will no longer be mandatory but will still be recommended.
Belgium's consultative committee agreed the new rules on Feb. 1, and this means previous rules such as an imposed closing time for bars, restaurants and shops to be scrapped.
A cap maximum of 200 people will be allowed for indoor and outdoor activities, but some indoor activities could be capped at 70 percent of their full capacity depending on air quality and the dynamic nature of the activity.
Other measures will include night shops staying open until usual closing time and teleworking being cancelled, though recommended when possible.
Masks will be completely lifted as of Feb. 19 for children under the age of 12.
Travelers to Belgium are no longer subject to restrictions based on the color code of the country of origin. Non-Belgian residents will need to show proof of vaccination, a negative PCR test or rapid antigen test.
The main indicators of the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium are still falling, according to figures from the Sciensano Institute of Public Health updated on Friday.
Between Feb. 8 and 14, the average daily number of new cases dropped by 44 percent to 12,931, and patients currently hospitalized with the coronavirus are down to 3,253, including 350 in intensive care.
The number of hospital admissions between Feb. 11 and 17 was 246.1, continuing their downward curve. ■
