The police have closed three hotels in Brussels after sex workers in the area ignored the government measures instructing people to stay inside to the further spread of the new coronavirus (Covid-19).
On Wednesday morning, the police closed ‘Studio 2000’, ‘Studio Europe’ and ‘5th Avenue’, three hotels in Brussels Alhambra district known for prostitution until 3 April, following repeated complaints from local residents. “We still saw prostitutes on the streets soliciting, all while the government is calling on the whole population to stay inside,” said Jan Leerman of the Alhambra neighbourhood committee to Het Nieuwsblad.
“In the North Quarter, the brothels were closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, but in our district, prostitutes continued soliciting as if nothing had changed,” Leerman said. “We do not think it is normal for a neighbourhood committee to have to report these problems, which can harm public health,” he added.
“The closure is part of an ordinance that Brussels’ mayor Philippe Close took on Tuesday, on the prohibition of prostitution in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus,” Maïthe Van Rampelbergh, Close’s spokesperson, told Het Laatste Nieuws. “This concerns both prostitution on the street and prostitution in institutions and buildings,” they added.
