Although it is mandatory, only one in two Belgians who return from a “red zone” abroad has themselves tested for possible contamination with the corona virus. This is evident from figures that Minister Philippe De Backer (Open VLD) announced on Tuesday in the Parliamentary Committee on Health.
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Travel within the EU is in principle possible, except to areas where the risk of contamination is estimated to be higher. These areas are referred to as “red zone”. There is a travel ban to those zones and those who return from there must be tested and go into self-quarantine.
But apparently not everyone does that. Almost half will not be tested, said Minister De Backer in the House. There are major regional differences: in Flanders more people have themselves tested than in Wallonia and Brussels.
Contact tracing
Minister De Backer said it is important that regional contact tracing follows up the case and contacts those involved who have not had a test taken one or two days after their return to ask why they have not yet done so.
Less than 2 percent of the tests taken with tourists from the “red zones” were positive.
Security Council
On Thursday, the National Security Council will meet to see whether the measures to contain the virus should or can be made more stringent or relaxed. Minister of Health Maggie De Block (Open VLD) did not yet comment on this in the House on Tuesday, although she did understand that an expansion of the bubble of five is not easy. “It is only just that the number of infections is slowing down. It is only the last week that we see that the number of hospitalizations is no longer increasing exponentially, but is still increasing, so we have to be careful there, ”said De Block.
The National Security Council must also give the formal green light for the restart of the schools and, in addition to the social bubble, it is also examining the situation around the shops and the cultural sector.
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