Belgium allows non-essential shops to open

Belgium has relaxed some of its lockdown rules and allowed n-essential shops to reopen under restricted conditions on Tuesday, a month after imposing ir shutdown in order to contain surge of second coronavirus wave.

Only three weeks away from Christmas, toy shop owner Sarah De Kinkajou was finally be able to open her store to customers.

"I'm so happy! So happy to reopen, to see my little customers and my little shop again, to be able to let people in and touch things and taking time with m, while respecting all measures" she said while rearranging her shop after one month of imposed closing.

Some of measures imposed in order to reopen shops include a maximum of one customer per 10 square meters (100 square feet), hand sanitiser must be available, and signs on floor to respect 1,5 meters social distancing are mandatory.

"I think that measures are good, it does t change much from previous measures taken, and it is good for our customers. y are respectful, y wash ir hands when y enter, y respect social distancing" said Philip De Wolf, a decoration shop owner full of Christmas me decorations,

"I feel really safe," agrees Claudia Maldono who came to chose Christmas tree ornaments. "And it is a pleasure to go back to life again despite fact that virus is still around, but it really pleases me to see that shop owners can reopen and make a living," she ded.

On Rue Neuve, Brussels' main shopping street, signs are directing one-way paths for pedestrians, as well as reminding people of social distancing and mandatory face masks.

In order to avoid any Christmas shopping rush, security guards are counting and limiting number of people allowed in street.

Security is also present at Grand Place entrances to avoid overcrowding.

One of hardest-hit countries in Europe, Belgium has reported more than 16,000 deaths linked to coronavirus.