Coronavirus: Nursery and primary schools to close on 17 December, mask from six years

All nursery and primary schools in Belgium will close for the Christmas holidays a week earlier than planned, on Friday 17 December, and secondary school pupils will switch to a hybrid model of in-person and distance learning next week, Belgium's coronavirus consultative committee has announced.

From this Saturday, children aged six and above will be required to wear a mask in indoor public spaces - including in school. If two cases of coronavirus are detected in a single class, all pupils will be required to quarantine. CO2 alarms must be installed in every classroom and if the measurement exceeds 900ppm, pupils must leave the room.

As during the first coronavirus shutdown, when all schools were closed, children whose parents have an essential job in healthcare can still attend nursery or primary school. Higher education will enter "code orange" - meaning students should only attend lectures one day per week.

From Monday, indoor events - including concerts, theatre performances and cinema screenings - cannot have more than 200 attendees. Events with fewer than 200 people are still allowed but attendees must have a Covid Safe Ticket, wear a mask and remain seated.

No restrictions on social "bubbles" were announced by the consultative committee, although the official advice is to limit your social contacts as much as possible. Private events, except at home, remain banned, except for weddings and funerals.

No changes will be made to the rules on cafes and restaurants. The GEMS expert group had recommended that they close earlier - at 20.00 instead of 23.00 - but this was rejected by the committee. Closing hours remain from 23.00 to 5.00 in the morning.

The consultative committee met on Friday - the third meeting in as many weeks - as the coronavirus situation in Belgium continues to worsen. The infection rate among children under nine is currently the highest.

"These are difficult weeks," said prime minister Alexandre De Croo. "This wave of the virus is worse than we expected."