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The mouth mask obligation will expire from 1 October in the Flemish catering industry and trade. The discussion within the federal government about the phasing out of economic support is deadlocked.
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The consultation committee entered a new phase on Friday: the federal government only makes mouth masks mandatory for contact professions such as hairdressers, in healthcare institutions and on public transport. If the states feel that more protection is needed, they can decide for themselves. And that again leads to a different approach between Flanders on the one hand and Brussels and Wallonia on the other. The Flemish government – which can boast a Flemish vaccination rate of more than 90 percent – makes both customers and staff of catering and trade mouth masks free. The Brussels Region, which is in trouble with a low vaccination rate, does maintain the mouth mask obligation in shops, cafes and restaurants and at work and does not actually introduce any relaxation. Walloon Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo (PS) opts for keeping the mouth mask indoors.
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In his press conference after the consultation committee, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open VLD) strongly emphasized that it is the responsibility of the unvaccinated that corona restrictions will still apply in the capital. “This is becoming an epidemic of unvaccinated.”
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The discussion about temporary unemployment and other federal support measures is stuck. CD&V and Open VLD only want to allow a limited expansion, against the wishes of the PS.
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As already known, it is mandatory in Brussels to present the Covid Safe Ticket if you want to go to a restaurant. The Flemish government will only decide next week in which sectors – for example in hospitals – such a corona pass can be requested, but on Martelaarsplein it can be heard that Flanders is going for a minimal implementation. For the time being, it concerns the discos that can open their doors again from 1 October. The social partners are given the task of drawing up new protocols for the situation in the workplace. Companies already receive anonymous insight into the vaccination rate of their staff. The mouth mask can still be recommended if little distance can be kept, but is no longer a must. Again: all these relaxations do not apply to Brussels companies.
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No deal on pennies
What was silent about yesterday is whether or not the federal economic support measures will be extinguished, with temporary unemployment and the double bridging right for the self-employed as expensive eye-catchers. Once again, the De Croo government has not been able to get out of it. While the French-speaking parties want to let these measures run until the end of the year, CD&V and Open VLD are firmly on the brakes because it could cost half a billion and companies are short of hands. De Tijd learned that an extension of temporary unemployment for a limited number of sectors is not so much the problem, but rather the PS’s demand to extend numerous social premiums and measures, such as a 50 euro premium for the poorest. CD&V and Open VLD also want to put an end to the freeze on the degressivity of unemployment benefits.
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