Belgium closes schools, restaurants to fight coronavirus

Measures will come into force at midnight on Saturday

Last updated: March 13, 2020 | 02:16

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Belgium's Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes gives a press conference after a meeting of the National Safety Council with of politicians and intelligence services, to discuss about the situation of the COVID-19 outbreak in Brussels on March 12, 2020.

AFP

Brussels: Belgium will close schools, cancel all cultural events and shutter bars and restaurants as part of its push to stave off the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, the government said on Thursday.

Announced by Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes after a meeting of the national security council, the measures will come into force at midnight on Saturday.