Cafes and restaurants can reopen with strict physical distance and hygiene rules.
But 20% of establishments will not reopen, as is the case for Catherine Mathieu, manager of a restaurant and wine cellar in Namur: “I’m not reopening like before because I feel like I’m putting chains on my feet and I don’t want this pressure anymore,” she explained in Belgium’s RTLINFO 19H.
With too many payrolls and too much risk it’s certain that her establishment will change. Her idea now is to operate as independently as possible, without workers, without employees, and to operate with freelancers instead.
At lake Geval, one restaurant has seen a full house on day one, with people eager to go out again.
Thierry Neyens, President of the Walloon Horeca Federation, explained that the temporary economic support measures announced Sunday (including a reduction to 6% VAT) “will help mitigate bankruptcies and even restructuring. The sector must also prepare to redo a cash flow plan. I can understand that some colleagues are still closing for a while because they need time to reorganise.”
Sports halls and gyms are also back in business, with some opening doors at one minute past midnight.
Gym owner Bruno Beriot explained that after a four day “titanic job” with his whole team to reorganise the premises, reopening was “a huge relief. We never thought we would see so many people after midnight and we are very, very happy.” 80 people signed up to the midnight workout session already. Each individual is permitted to exercise for a maximum length of 75 minutes, without access to changing rooms or showers. Reservation remains compulsory throughout the upcoming weeks.
Primary and kindergarten students who have not yet returned to school did so on Monday. This can be quite a headache for some parents, as different arrival times have been set up for different classes.
In nursing homes, residents will be able to receive visits from four different people instead of just one, but people may come in pairs, explains Philippe Noël, the President of the Public Centre for Social Action (CPAS) of Namur.
The directions take care of the practical arrangements for the visits. Physical contact remains prohibited.
