LOC00:20
21:20 GMT
BRUSSELS, Oct 6 (KUNA) -- Belgium's new Prime Minister Alexander De Croo Tuesday announced tightening of coronavirus measures to curb rising infections in the country.
"The situation is worrying and very serious. We can see that the spread of the virus is accelerating considerably. We need to stop that acceleration as soon as possible", he told a press conference.
According to Belgian health authorities, there were 2,300 infections per day during the past week and an average of 81 people hospitalized per day.
Starting from Friday, and lasting a month, the new rules says that cafes will have to close at 11 p.m. instead of 1 a.m. and only four people will be allowed per table.
People can also only have close contact with three people down from five outside their family members.
Working from home remains encouraged, several days a week.
"The situation is serious," Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke told the joint press conference.
"The children must be able to continue to go to school and the companies must be able to work. "It depends very much on all of us", he emphasized. (end)
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