Thousands of Belgian healthcare workers rallied in Brussels to oppose mandatory Covid-19 vaccines and to demand better working conditions as a surge in new cases weighs heavily on hospitals.

Around 4,000 people — some with placards reading “Save your nurse, one day she will be the one saving you,” or “My body, my choice” — took part in the march, according to police in Belgium’s capital.

The noisy rally ended outside the Belgian health ministry, where police at one point used pepper spray to keep some demonstrators away. There were no reports of injuries.

Read more from AP here.