Bad news for cinemas in Belgium. These will have to close on December 26 because of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
This is very sad news that comes to us from Belgium. To curb the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, the Belgian consultation committee has decided to take drastic new measures. Thus, cinemas and theaters will have to close their doors on Sunday, December 26.
At the time of the release of blockbusters like Spider-Man No Way Home or Matrix Resurrections, this news sounds like a sledgehammer for the cultural sector of the country.
For the moment, it is an indefinite closure that has been decreed. During his press conference this Wednesday at 6.15 p.m., Prime Minister Alexander de Croo spoke of a “The country entered a great period of uncertainty, due to the spread of the Omicron variant despite declining pressure in hospitals”.
From “aid measures for the cultural sector will be implemented again” said Pierre-Yves Jeholet, Minister-President of the Government of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, referring to “discussions on this subject from the beginning of January”.
“We have taken all measures to ensure the health safety of visitors, whether in terms of reservations, social distancing, ventilation, etc. All international studies show that the risks of contamination are minimal in cinemas.
We play not only with the economic health of a sector, but also with the mental health of our employees and the public who need to relax in this anxiety-provoking period “ Kinepolis spokeswoman Anneleen Van Troos hammered in the columns of Echo.
Can we fear that such a measure could also be decided for France? For the moment, some films have shifted their release dates, such as Rumba la vie by Franck Dubosc, which runs from January 19 to August 24. As for I love what you do with Gérard Lanvin, it goes from March 30 to May 18, 2022. Hopefully this isn’t the harbinger of bad news.