Response to parliamentary questions on COVID-19 and on preparations for a second wave
Check against delivery Thank you, Mr Speaker. The improvement we’ve seen in the health situation in recent weeks isn’t a given, as shown by the reproduction number, which has risen above 1 again. One of the questions was about daily figures. I share your opinion entirely. I share your opinion, and we’ve asked [the Belgian federal public health institute] Sciensano to start providing us with daily figures again, to at least ensure that the experts have these at their disposal,…
National Security Council meeting of 15 July
Phase 5 of the phase-out plan is not yet activated. Some indicators are worrying and we are keeping an eye on things. We all need to be more vigilant. On 23 July, we will assess the situation again.
The Consultative Committee extends the requirement to wear a face mask
The Consultative Committee met today, Thursday 9 July, in the presence of the Group of Experts in charge of the Exit Strategy (GEES). The experts submitted a new report recommending an extension of the obligation to wear a face mask. This brings them in line with the advisory report of the Superior Health Council, which was issued this morning. On this basis, the Consultative Committee decided to extend the obligation to wear a face mask, following the new GEES recommendations. As a reminder,…
Response to parliamentary questions on the handling of the crisis and on the recovery
Check against delivery Handling of the coronavirus crisis Thank you, Mr Speaker. Of course, the summer-holiday period is a very popular time for people to travel abroad, and the lockdown we have experienced because of the public-health crisis has definitely made the desire for a change of scene even greater. However, as we know and as has been said many times, the virus has not gone anywhere. It is still out there. New infection clusters have emerged in several of Belgium’s…
Decision of the Consultative Committee on travel abroad
Today, Wednesday 8 July, the Consultative Committee met in the presence of the Group of Experts in charge of the Exit Strategy (GEES) to define the epidemiological strategy regarding people who return from so-called “high-risk” zones, as part of the fight against Covid-19 in Belgium. The National Security Council has already regulated non-essential travel abroad by strictly limiting the list of countries accessible for Belgians to European member states and/or countries in the…
Phase 4 of the phasing out will start on 1 July
The National Security Council, extended to include the ministers-president, reached an agreement to proceed with phase 4 of the phasing-out from 1 July, on the basis of the agreement of the GEES experts, who refers to the favourable evolution of the epidemiological situation. The six golden rules remain in force: compliance with hygiene measures; preferably organize activities in open air; taking extra precautions for people who are in high-risk groups; respecting safety distances; the…
Response to parliamentary questions (events sector and management of the crisis compared with other OECD countries)
Check against delivery Emergence from the crisis and the road ahead for the events sector Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I’ve said a number of times, easing the lockdown is an unprecedented, complex and gradual process that requires us to strike a balance between the desire and the need to return to normal life, on the one hand, and the requirements of the health situation, on the other. Unfortunately, because of their very nature, certain sectors cannot resume their activities…
New measures for the third part of the Federal Plan for Social and Economic Protection
The Inner Cabinet extended with the parties that support the Federal Government reached an agreement on Friday about a series of additional support measures related to the third part of the Federal Plan for Social and Economic Protection. As a reminder, a first set of measures was adopted on 6 June[1]. It was agreed at the time that an extension of this series of measures would be considered in a second phase. The newly agreed support measures can be divided into two categories. A first part…
Agreement of the Inner Cabinet + 10 on spending power support measures for Belgians and industries in difficulty
The Inner Cabinet, extended to include the 10 parties supporting the Federal Government, have adopted a series of measures from the third part of the Federal Plan for Social and Economic Protection. A first package contains measures already taken by the federal government, which will be extended. The most important measures are: temporary unemployment due to corona force majeure; the bridging right for the self-employed; and corona parental leave. These measures are extended until 31 August.…
Response to parliamentary questions
Check against delivery Meeting of the National Security Council on 3 June 2020 – support measures for the hospitality industry Thank you, Mr Speaker. Various sectors and industries are affected by the resumption in activity envisaged in phase 3 of the lockdown exit plan, chief among them the hospitality industry and the cultural and sports sectors. I’m not going to repeat here all the decisions set out yesterday, but I will focus on some specific details that have…