Belgian officials Friday announced new COVID-19 restrictions but stopped short of a lockdown to stem the surging rate of infections, which are now averaging more than 10,000 per day. At a news conference in Brussels, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced, among other restrictions, fans are now banned from sports matches; zoos and theme parks will be closed; and limits will be placed on the number of people in cultural spaces.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte expressed deep concern for the escalating numbers of coronavirus infections in the Netherlands at his weekly press conference on Friday. He refused to exclude any single measure to bring the infections under control, including a stricter lockdown and a curfew, saying, "All scenarios are on the table."