Belgium's government announced concert halls, cinemas and other entertainment venues would have to close from the weekend as Omicron cases increased, AFP reports.

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told a media conference that while overall Covid-19 infections were down 60 percent from where they were three weeks ago, worryingly three out of 10 positive tests were now of the Omicron variant.

“We have to be more careful than ever in this period where there are many uncertainties,” he said. While entertainment venues would have to shut from Sunday, the additional restrictions would not affect museums, De Croo said.

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