Belgium prohibits sports competitions with the public due to the omicron variant

Belgium will not allow public sports competitions neither indoors nor outdoors from next Sunday faced with the concern generated by the omicron variantauthorities announced Wednesday.

“Our country has known for three weeks a fairly stable set of measures (…) to fight against the delta variant and those measures have had an effect” but it is clear that “You have to worry about the omicron variant”Prime Minister Alexander de Croo declared this Wednesday at a press conference.

Despite the contagions have been falling for three weeks, and the cumulative incidence has gone from more than 2,100 points at the end of November to 1,293 points today, the Government and regions have agreed to ban indoor public events, such as cinemas, theaters and concert halls, and certain outdoor activities.

Among them, the celebration of sports competitions with the public, so that stadiums will not be able to receive fans in the stands, as had already happened in other waves of infections in Belgium during the coronavirus pandemic.

The new restrictions, which are added to those already in force, such as teleworking or the night-time closing of bars and restaurants, apply from this Sunday, with what six football first division matches may not be held with the public Unless the meetings are advanced to Saturday.

The delegated administrator of Pro League, organizer of professional football leagues in Belgium, Pierre François told the RTBF network that “This closure is going to hurt”added that generates “great concern” know if the clubs will be able to sell tickets again in January and asked the ministries of Finance and Social Affairs to review the situation in the sector. (D)