BELGIUM is going into full lockdown as of midday tomorrow the government has announced.
People will only be allowed to leave their homes for food shopping, to go to the doctor, or to go to work if there's no possibility to work from home.
The lockdown will last 18 days until April 5.
Belgium Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès announced that all non-essential shops will be closed.
Her current government is only allowed to make decisions based on coronavirus as it is a "crisis government" as Belgium has not had a formal government since May 26 2019.
This is their first act since officially forming their government with Belgium's parliament's full backing over the last 24 hours.
Banks will remain open, as will pharmacies, newsagents, food shops and supermarkets to avoid hoarding.
The move comes on the back of the latest coronavirus figures for the country: 172 new confirmed cases, bringing their total to 1,058.
The new rules for Belgians
- Access to supermarkets is limited to one person per 10 square metres and Belgians will only be allowed into shops for 30 minutes per customer.
- Public markets are now banned, with the exception of food stalls where they are vital.
- Working from home will now become the norm.
- There will also be a ban on gathering, for which only family units will be an exception.
- Outdoor exercise will still be allowed, but not in groups and only as a family.
- Transport must be organized so that the travelers can space 1.5 metres apart.
Belgium closed all its bars, schools and restaurants just last week.
They follow in the footsteps of France and Spain as the virus pandemic grows.
Coronavirus closed all European borders earlier today as Europe's death toll breached 2,000 and the number of cases surpassed 50,000 collectively.
Brits have been left stranded abroad and trapped in their hotels as nations like Spain do their best to stop the spread.
Here in the UK experts have warned that 260 thousand of us could be killed by corona and we could be working from home for the next 18 months while scientists desperately search for a cure.
Phone and network companies are struggling to keep up with the surge in demand as millions are forced to work from home.
Supermarkets have also urged able-bodied people to stop ordering online as services are so stretched that elderly and vulnerable people who are self-isolating under new government orders face six week waits.
The British people are going to have to pull together and help each other out as much as we can during this trying time.
More to follow…
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