EU raises its guard against pandemic

New restrictions imposed amid resurgence of cases

A worker on a telescopic boom lift was busy installing a banner across the entrance to a shopping street in Brussels, the Belgian capital, at lunchtime on Friday.

Written in French and Dutch, and hoisted over the Rue des Tongres, the banner stated, "Mask-wearing mandatory in this area".

Instead of further easing lockdown measures, Belgium has experienced a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. This follows several rounds of restrictions being lifted and borders opening to other European Union and Schengen Area member states.

On Thursday, Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes announced that new restrictions would be imposed two days later to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. The restrictions include mandatory wearing of face masks in more public places. They are in addition to those enforced earlier on public transportation and at shops, museums, cinemas, libraries and churches.

The latest rules also include a new closing time for shops staying open at night and stricter contact tracing efforts in bars and restaurants. However, an earlier decision to allow "social bubbles" of 15 people a week remains unchanged despite opposition from some experts.

Wilmes, who took office in October as Belgium's first female prime minister, hopes the 15-person limit will be observed.

"We must take action today so that we have no regrets tomorrow. We must act collectively. Everyone is an actor in this crisis," she said.