Interior Minister Pieter De Crem mentioned border restrictions following the CNS.
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“We asked the governor of Antwerp to assemble a crisis unit to normally take containment measures in certain districts of Antwerp,” Liberal Deputy Prime Minister David Clarinval said on Monday after the National Council of security. He admits, however, that “the shutter on Antwerp is not easy”. After participating in the National Security Council in the morning, the governor of Antwerp Cathy Berx still chaired a crisis unit in her province at the end of the afternoon.
She had been invited to the CNS just like her counterpart from West Flanders. The expectations seem clear: that a local containment be established, particularly in certain districts of the city of Antwerp itself, where there has been a “boom” in contaminations.
“It is not up to the CNS to take measures that impact locally. Everyone must take their responsibilities at their level. The local lockdown must be taken by the mayor, or by the governor failing that, ”explains David Clarinval Monday afternoon in Belga. His colleague from the federal government, CD&V Minister Pieter De Crem said at the microphone of the VRT that local confinement, such as that expected in Antwerp, could be to isolate a few streets, or even a few blocks of apartments. “It could be at this level, because it is difficult to confine an entire city. The local authorities have insisted on being able to make tailor-made products. We gave them this possibility last week, which we have further refined ”.
Federal government ministers defend “strong measures” at the end of the CNS, but which were necessary in view of the experts’ assessment, we hear. “It is necessary, because the second wave is here, we did not think that it would happen so quickly”, indicates the Minister of Public Health Maggie De Block (Open Vld) in Belga.
“We take measures mainly in the private bubble because the expert report shows that it is mainly in the reports of everyday life, family reunions, weddings, this kind of meetings, that the epidemic resumes. », Explains David Clarinval.
“These are tough decisions because people have already put in a lot of effort. And it is also their freedom that we limit, ”adds Maggie De Block on this subject. “The weather is nice, people have time off, they want to take advantage of it, I understand it’s not cheerful. But we must take these measures to prevent that in September we can not open schools, for example. The children have already had less education ”.
The bubble of five people fixed per household, these are the close contacts that we can welcome at home, she explains. On the other hand, it is still possible to have friendly meetings outside your home, for example in the restaurant, at 10 (not counting the children).
In the opinion of the two ministers, the measures taken on Monday should be “sufficient”. “There will undoubtedly still be measures in terms of returning from vacation which will be taken at the end of the week,” explains David Clarinval, but for the rest there should be no other measures in the short term. Those of Monday are valid from Wednesday and a priori for four weeks, at least. By the end of August, “we will not go back on the rule of the bubble of five”, ensures Maggie De Block.
According to Minister Pieter De Crem, speaking at the microphone of the VRT, there is also no intention to reintroduce border restrictions. The Belgian can therefore continue to travel to other European countries, but must take into account the travel form (Passenger Locator Form) which was finalized on Monday, according to an official. It will become mandatory for all returns from abroad from August 1, regardless of the mode of transport and the reason for the trip, as long as the absence from the country was more than 48 hours. The online form will be available on the Foreign Affairs website, according to Karine Moykens, president of the interfederal Testing & Tracing committee. As Pieter De Crem confirms, there will be “ad hoc and dynamic” checks on the obligation to complete the form.
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