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A30 world news
Diasabra 20 Maart 2021

Belgium pauses re-opening plans as virus infections mount

sures have been in place since Virologist Yves Van Laethem De Croo said. He said the
the start of November. A ban warned that the number of travel ban will also remain in
on non-essential travel is also COVID-19 patients in inten- place until at least the same
in effect. The plan had been sive care beds could reach a date.
to offer some relief to long- critical level by April 10 if the
suffering citizens by resum- pace of infections does not Van Laethem said earlier that
ing some outdoor activities slow down. Belgium is "standing at the
from April 1. foot of a third wave of infec-
De Croo said that most new tions," but that people can
"We are pressing the pause cases were being found in help turn that into a "mini-
button," De Croo told re- schools and in the work wave" by respecting the rules.
porters. place. The number of elder-
ly people catching or dying A total of 22,624 people
Earlier Friday, health authori- from the virus is dropping as have died from coronavirus-
ties said the number of con- Belgium's vaccination pro- related causes in Belgium,
(AP) — Belgian Prime ment has decided to pause firmed new daily infections gram kicks in. a country with 11.5 million
Minister Alexander De its plans to gradually ease had risen by a third over the inhabitants that was among
Croo said Friday that the restrictions. past seven days, to reach 3,226 "We have one month to limit the hardest-hit globally when
country faces a few "cru- on average. Hospitalizations social contacts as much as the pandemic broke. Around
cial weeks" as the number Obligatory mask-wearing due to COVID-19 also rose possible so that schools can 7.5% of the population has
of coronavirus infections outdoors, night-time curfews by 27% over the same period. open normally again on April received a first jab of corona-
rise, and that the govern- and restaurant and bar clo- 19" after the Easter vacation, virus vaccine so far.

Russian warning against NATO membership denounced by Bosnia

(AP) — Bosnian officials member in Bosnia's tripartite wishing to join the alliance.
on Friday denounced a presidency, said that Mos-
Russian warning that cow's statement represents "a Bosnia, Kosovo and Serbia, a
it will take action if the veiled threat" not only against Russian ally, remain the only
country takes steps to- Bosnia, but also against its Western Balkan nations that
ward NATO membership. Western allies, including the are not NATO members.
United States. Montenegro joined the al-
The Russian embassy in Sa- liance in 2017 while North
rajevo had said a day earlier "It's clearly a geopolitical Macedonia became a mem-
that "in case of practical rap- game which Russia is play- ber last year.
prochement" of Bosnia and ing to stop the expansion of
NATO, "our country will NATO in Europe," Komsic Bosnian Serbs, who control
have to react to this hostile said. about half of Bosnia after a
act." U.S.-sponsored peace deal
The main Bosniak Party of that ended a bloody war in
It was not clear from the Democratic Action said that the 1990s, are closely allied
statement what action Rus- the Russian statement rep- with Russia and remain ve- it might want with the 30-na- statement.
sia might take against Bosnia, resents "another inappropri- hemently opposed to NATO tion military alliance.
which has long proclaimed ate meddling" by Moscow in membership. She said that NATO and
membership in the Western Bosnia's internal affairs. "No third party has the right Bosnia have "a long-standing
military alliance and in the NATO spokeswoman Oana to intervene or veto such a and mutually beneficial co-
European Union a strategic Bosnia is part of NATO's Lungescu said every country process. Any threats in this operation. Cooperation with
goal. Membership Action Plan, an has its own right to decide respect are unacceptable. The NATO does not prejudge
advisory and assistance pro- how to handle its security time of spheres of influence any potential future NATO
Zeljko Komsic, the Croat gram designed for countries and what level of cooperation is over," Lungescu said in a membership."

Greece to reopen ancient sites despite COVID-19 surge

(AP) — Greece's govern- Friday to reopen the other ancient sites na- barbershops and hair salons,
ment announced plans Acropolis in Athens and tionwide and provide free and ancient sites for people Free tests will be made avail-
weekly rapid tests for CO- on brief outings. Museums able to all residents of Greece
VID-19 for all the coun- will remain closed. with a social security number
try's residents as it pre- before the end of the month,
pares to restart the tour- "What we are talking about officials said. Medical, nurs-
ism season in mid-May. are pressure-release valves. ing, and administrative staff
This is to help people com- at public hospitals who have
The measures were an- ply with restrictions that have not yet been vaccinated will
nounced despite an ongoing been in effect for such a long receive mandatory rapid tests
surge in daily infections to time," said Akis Skertsos, a twice weekly, according to a
20.9 per 100,000 residents, as deputy minister for govern- Health Ministry order, effec-
a seven-day rolling average, ment coordination. tive immediately.
with private hospital space
being used by the state-run The reopening of ancient The government says that
health service to cope with sites was announced despite despite the current surge, it
treatment demand. strong reservations from an expects to open to tourism, a
association of state employees key driver of the economy, in
Starting Saturday, a weekend at ancient sites which warned mid-May.
curfew will be relaxed. It will that "procedures required for
be followed on Monday by a secure safety protocols have Lockdown measures have
series of other measures in- not been completed" but did been in effect since early No-
cluding a limited opening of not give further details. vember.