BRUSSELS. Less restrictions on going to concerts and shopping, new preliminary restrictions for those arriving from abroad. Belgium reviews anti-Covid rules, adopting a double standard. Starting tomorrow, July 30, the maximum number of people admitted to shops and shopping centers will disappear. Goodbye lines and waiting outside, just need to check at the entrance. In fact, all over the national territory will return to shopping as before the pandemic. However, the obligation to use the mask for all customers remains unaffected, and respect as much as possible for social distancing from one another.
The federal government gave the green light to the new provisions, after the meeting of the committee of experts and the crisis unit. However, the measures are of a temporary nature. For now, the authorities have decided to attempt a return to normal shopping until 30 September.
News is also coming for large outdoor events, such as concerts, fairs, exhibitions, sporting events. From 13 August, events for 1,500 or more people can take place without preventive measures (no masks, no distancing) if in possession of the Covid Safe Ticket, the Belgian certificate containing information on double vaccination, negative test result or recently recovered from virus. The definition of a crowd management plan and other sanitary measures such as ventilation will follow. From 1 September, the same rules will apply to indoor events, if the situation does not get worse.
For restrictions that are removed, others are reintroduced. The shirts are shrinking for people arriving or returning to Belgium from abroad. People without full vaccination coverage risk having to undergo a double swab and quarantine period again. For those who have not received the second dose of anti-Covid serum, if coming from EU countries and the Schengen area of free circulation (EU countries plus Lichtenstein, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland) with a high rate of variants, they will have to do a molecular swab upon arrival and a second after seven days, with quarantine in between. If positive, a 10-day quarantine will be triggered.
These are preliminary provisions, already decided and left on stand-by, but ready to be triggered when deemed necessary. “Currently no EU or Schengen country is on the list” of states for which the new restrictions are envisaged, explains Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. The government prepares itself in the event of a deterioration of the situation. “The situation can evolve and we need to be able to take timely measures.”