Belgium is once again introducing additional corona measures | Inland

The Belgian governments have decided that children from the age of six must wear a mask in all places where it is already mandatory for older Belgians. Furthermore, in secondary schools, a maximum of half of the lessons may take place physically. Primary schools will close a week earlier, giving them a three-week Christmas holiday.

Ventilation

A big difference with the Netherlands is the use of CO2 meters in all classes. If the value exceeds 900ppm, schools must ventilate more, at a value above 1,200ppm, students even have to leave the classroom.

The Belgian counterpart of the OMT had asked for much more rigorous measures. For example, experts thought it necessary to introduce a ‘cooling off period’ of ten days. That would mean that schools and sports centers would close immediately.

But the governments are now opting for other robust measures in education. It was a conscious decision not to close gyms and swimming pools. According to Prime Minister De Croo, it is good for people’s health to continue exercising.

Horeca

It is striking that the advice to close restaurants and cafes at 8 p.m. is ignored. The top ministers of our Burgundian neighbors to the south apparently thought that was too much. The mandatory closing time remains at 23:00. However, indoor events with large groups of people are prohibited. Studio100 has canceled the big Sinterklaas shows with immediate effect.

“The autumn wave is much heavier than estimated. The pressure on our care has become unsustainable,” says De Croo. “We have only one assignment: to make adjustments.”

Although the corona figures are still dramatic at the moment, there are cautiously encouraging signs. The Belgian RIVM thinks that the peak in the number of new infections and hospital admissions has been reached. That effect is always visible only later in the intensive care unit. The peak is expected to be reached next week, with between 850 to 1,000 patients. With two thousand IC beds, Belgium has a larger capacity than the Netherlands, but due to sick staff, there are now at least two hundred fewer beds available.

Vaccinate 5- to 12-year-olds

Belgium has signed a deal with pharmaceutical company Pfizer about 336,000 children’s vaccines that will be delivered this month. In January, 400,000 doses will be added, Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke announced. As far as he is concerned, the 736,000 shots will be given to the 5- to 11-year-olds as soon as possible for those who want it.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved Pfizer/BioNTech’s pediatric vaccines on November 25. “They are smaller doses and the composition is also a bit different from that for people over 12,” says Vandenbroucke. He said the Belgian Health Council still has a few steps to take before the vaccine can be applied in Belgium.

Boosters

Other good news is that Belgium is in the European top with the booster campaign. On Friday, Belgium may already pass the two million jabs. With the group of elderly and very elderly, the injection brigade, of which many volunteers are part, is almost ready. Prime Minister De Croo expects to reach the magical limit of 4 million jabs before the end of the year. The Liberal has thanked everyone who has been vaccinated. He spoke of “an act of solidarity” that prevented many corona patients and deaths.

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