Arms shops may open on 11 May | National Security Council also does not know when stands can open

During a press conference yesterday, the prime minister announced that all shops would be allowed to reopen from 11 May. This opening is subject to numerous strict conditions in terms of social distancing. These measures are easy for the sector to implement. After all, no large groups of people go to the shops and there is usually enough space to keep a safe distance.

Please note that the opening of the stores (including all stores) depends on, among other things, the further evolution in the spread of the Sars-COV2 virus and the number of Covid19 admissions to hospitals. The relaxations are also linked to a follow-up that consists of at least 25,000 PCR tests per day being carried out and that the contact follow-up measures are operational.

So we have to wait until it is clear whether these conditions will be met before we know for sure that arms shops can reopen. The government will probably communicate further about this in the week of 4 May. It will therefore be clear whether weapons for which a license has been issued can still be collected within the period of 3 months of validity.

During the press conference and in the later announcements, nothing was said about the reopening of facilities for sports and recreation.

The press release says that “soon” clarity will be given about the sports competitions that could possibly be resumed from May 11. However, it is unclear whether recognized sports clubs could reopen provided that the distance rules were observed (this was first announced on the basis of leaked documents, but then withdrawn by the media that reported on the leaked information).

However, there is talk of outdoor sports activities that can first be done with a maximum of 2 people, and later team sports would be possible. Nothing has been communicated about this yet.
As it looks based on what we know, the shooting ranges will not open too quickly.

In the meantime, the exceptional measures for the renewal of marksmen’s licences and provisional marksmen’s licences continue in Flanders (there is no similar regulation for Walloon marksmen’s licences yet).