The Belgian authorities have decided to drop the requirement for fully vaccinated people to self-isolate following a close contact with someone infected with COVID-19 from Monday 10 January 2022. However, people are asked to continue to be extremely careful, maximise teleworking, avoid contact with vulnerable people, and wear a FFP2 mask if possible.
The new rule applies to anyone who has received their second vaccine dose or booster in the last five months.
Vaccinated folk whose last jab was more than five-month ago must still isolate for 10 days following a high-risk contact, but can be released on day four with daily negative antigen tests taken until day seven. A negative PCR test will no longer be required to end quarantine.
However, for unvaccinated people, the rules remain the same. They will have to undergo PCR testing on days one and seven, will remain in quarantine until they have received a negative result for the second test, and must also undergo daily negative self-tests until day ten.
Infected people still have to isolate, but only for seven days rather than ten and, once symptoms have diminished, they can leave isolation providing they have undergone a negative self-test.
These new rules were backed by federal and regional health ministers on Tuesday (4 January) and will come into effect on 10 January 2022.
