Start of Phase 3 of the phase-out plan starting on 8 June
Today, Wednesday, June 3, the National Security Council, extended to include the Ministers-President, approved the transition to Phase 3 of the phase-out plan starting on 8 June. As the daily reporting from the health authorities shows, the health indicators are encouraging. The experts have therefore given the green light to start this new phase. This implies a radical change in approach compared to the rules that have been in force so far. After all, from now on, freedom is the rule and what…
Response to parliamentary questions on the decisions of the National Security Council of 24 June
Check against delivery. Thank you, Mr. President, The positive trends in healthcare data do indeed allow us to move to phase 4 on 1 July, with the prospect of further easing. But it is always still possible that we will have to dial back measures. We must never forget this. Regarding the gatherings of large groups, because there were some questions about this. The gatherings we saw last weekend or a few weeks ago are not without consequences. Of course, there are many…
The third part of the Federal Plan for Social and Economic Protection is being prepared
The Inner Cabinet met this morning, Friday 29 May, to define the contours of the third part of the Federal Plan for Social and Economic Protection. As a reminder, the first two parts of this Plan were activated on 6 and 20 March and involved a series of measures to support employees, the self-employed and companies in difficulties. The aim of this third part is to continue and strengthen measures to support spending power, activity levels and employment in the coming months. The third part of…
Answers to parliamentary questions
Check against delivery. Economic recovery plan – Proposals from employers’ organisations Thank you, Mr. President, The economic impact of the crisis is considerable. As I said last week, at the beginning of April, the Planning Bureau and the National Bank of Belgium predicted a possible recession of -8% this year. It is likely that the actual recession in 2020 will be even worse. For 2021, the recovery will also be slow. However, a distinction must be made between,…
Gradual return to school to continue in Belgium
At its meeting on Wednesday, 27 May, the Consultation Committee agreed – based on a proposal by the education ministers and a recommendation by the Exit Strategy Expert Group (GEES) – on the next steps in ensuring that Belgian schoolchildren can return to school. It will be recalled that during the second phase of the easing of the lockdown, the decision was taken to gradually resume lessons for preschool, primary and secondary pupils. Children’s development is a priority for the…
Response to questions in plenary
Check against delivery Coronavirus crisis – recovery plan Thank you, Mr Speaker. First of all, I would like to answer the specific questions regarding second homes and the third phase. After that, I will talk about the macroeconomic aspect of the recovery. This week, virologists have once more confirmed that allowing members of the public to visit their second homes again would have no impact in terms of spreading COVID19, and so we now see no reason to unnecessarily delay…
Exit Strategy - Phase 2
https://www.sophiewilmes.be/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/EN_Exit_Strategy_Phase2.mp4
Answer to parliamentary questions on the decisions of the National Security Council
Check against delivery. Like every week, I would like to come back to the evolution of epidemiological data. This is indeed essential in the current phase-out process. Because, as you know, the next phases can only be started based on this evolution. The positive trends of the previous days continue. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff in the health sector for their efforts. The last few days we have seen a downward trend in hospital admissions. We also have positive…
Phase-out: start of phase 2 from 18 May
The National Security Council (NSC), extended with the ministers-president had a meeting today, Wednesday 13 May. On the basis of the GEES experts’ report, the NSC decided to start phase 2 of the phase-out plan as from 18 May. This phase is mainly about the gradual restarting of teaching for certain pupils in primary and secondary schools, under strict organisational conditions. Kindergartens will remain closed at this stage and higher education has already organised the end of the…