The Belgian authorities are taking stricter measures to stop the spread of the pandemic. In this context, the use of masks is spreading everywhere and teleworking is becoming mandatory, for those workers who can work from home, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced on Wednesday night.
From Monday, employees must work telework at least four days a week and three days after December 13th. This applies to both the private and public sectors. “It is an effort we must make together,” he told reporters.
The use of a mask becomes mandatory for everyone, from the age of 10 onwards, in all public places: public transport, bars, restaurants, theaters, cinemas and events, even outdoors.
Until now, in cultural places, visitors could remove their mask, as their sanitary pass was checked at the entrance.
The use of the health certificate will be extended to all public events, even Christmas markets (if more than 50 people are indoors and more than 100 outdoors), cultural venues and restaurants-bars, even if they host private events.
The vaccination campaign for children aged 5-11 will be launched as soon as possible and on a “voluntary basis”, subject to the approval of the Belgian regulatory authorities and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which is currently studying the results of clinical trials of the vaccine. of Pfizer-BioNTech in children.
“I understand irritability very well (…) It is important that we remain vigilant, all together, to protect ourselves and those around us, so that the situation remains tolerable for the medical staff,” de Croo said.
“It is not easy to make such decisions, but what we have decided is the minimum. “We are currently experiencing an outbreak of infections,” said Health Minister Frank Vadenbrique.
Belgium recorded about 10,300 new infections on a daily basis last week. Today 41 new deaths were announced while more than 2,000 patients are hospitalized, of which more than 25% in intensive care units.
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