A press release from the Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo has confirmed the outcomes of Friday’s Consultation Committee. The committee considered the worrying epidemiological situation, which places the entire country at alert level 4 on the COVID-19 barometer (very high alert level).

The pressure on hospitals and on the continuity of care for conditions unrelated to Covid-19 is increasing. Certain hospitals are suffering from high absences among their staff. Primary care, especially general medicine, is also facing increasing pressure.

The number of COVID patients in intensive care today is 2.5 times higher than at the end of March.

To prevent increasing problems in hospitals, to avoid closing schools, shutting down the economy, and forcing that too many people into a general lockdown, the committee decided on a series of measures:

• Close contacts are limited to 1 person maximum.
• Private gatherings are limited to 4 people for two weeks, always the same people.
• Gatherings on public roads are limited to a maximum of 4 people.
• Teleworking becomes the rule, for the jobs that lend themselves to it and while respecting the continuity of the management of companies and organizations, services and activities.
• Small-scale markets and fairs remain open, but the consumption of food and drink is prohibited. Flea markets and small Christmas markets are prohibited.
• Cafes, bars and restaurants will be closed. This measure is valid for a period of four weeks and will be subject to an evaluation after two weeks. On-site takeaway collection remains possible until 22h00. Receptions and banquets organized by a professional caterer or catering service are prohibited, except in hotels for clients staying there and funeral receptions (maximum 40 people).
• Night shops must close at 22h00. The sale of alcohol is prohibited after 20h00.
• Prohibition on being on the public highway (a curfew) between midnight (24h00) and 05h00, except for essential trips that cannot be postponed, such as trips for urgent medical reasons, business trips and the journey between home and work.
• Activities inside continue to fall under the protocols in force until their assessment on 23 October. The sale of food and drink is prohibited.
• Sports competitions: reduction by half of the compartments reserved for spectators, which will be reduced from 400 to 200 (professionals) or composed only of members of the same household (amateurs). Cafeterias and drinking establishments at sports grounds are closed.
• These measures come into effect on Monday October 19 and will apply for a month, before being subject to an assessment.

More information on the new measures can be found here.

Install Coronalert on your smartphone

Coronalert is a free and easy-to-use mobile application that strengthens our common fight against the coronavirus. If a person tests positive for Covid-19, they can directly notify high-risk cross-contacts in the previous hours and days. This application acts in addition to traditional contact monitoring - reinforced contact monitoring is one of the keys to combating the coronavirus.

In addition, if you take a screening test, you will receive the results directly on your phone.

To make this app as efficient as possible, we encourage as many smartphone users as possible to use it. It has been developed taking care to guarantee our privacy as much as possible: it is not based on geolocation and does not use any of your personal data.

You will find all the information and answers to your questions about the app here.