News and Events -----------

From 7 March, Belgium’s corona barometer is changing to code yellow. The Covid Safe Ticket will disappear in the Hotel and Catering sector, as will restrictions imposed on events. It will also be the end of the epidemic emergency and the federal phase of the national emergency plan launched two years ago.

The Belgian Consultation Committee considers that infections and the number of new hospitalisations are now on a constant downward trend and the reproduction rate of infections remains consistently below 1, indicating significantly lower circulation of the virus.

The details for 7 March and beyond are outlined below.

Masks still recommended but compulsory only in healthcare establishments and on public transport

• Wearing a mask is still recommended, among other things in indoor spaces, in the event of exceptional crowds and in places where social distancing of 1.5 meters cannot be guaranteed.
• The use of an FFP2 mask is still recommended for vulnerable people.
• From Monday 7 March 2022, wearing a mask will no longer be compulsory in education.
• The mask remains compulsory from the age of twelve in healthcare establishments such as hospitals and nursing homes, and in public transport.

Covid Safe Ticket

• The use of the Covid Safe Ticket, in particular in the Hotel and Catering sector and during events is ended.

New travel rules from 11 March

• The general requirement to complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) is waived. The PLF is only mandatory for people traveling to Belgium with a carrier from a third country that is not on the European Union whitelist.
• People who travel to Belgium and have one of the three COVID certificates (vaccination, test or recovery) are not subject to any test or quarantine obligation.
• People who reside in Belgium, do not have any of the three COVID certificates (vaccination, test or recovery) and travel from a country whose situation is unfavourable, must be tested on the first day of their arrival (rapid antigen test or PCR test ). Countries with an unfavourable situation include countries in dark red on the ECDC map and third countries that are not on the European Union's whitelist.
• People who do not reside in Belgium must be in possession of a valid COVID certificate (vaccination, test or recovery) when entering Belgium, except for short stays of less than 48 hours.
• For people coming from countries or regions with a new variant of concern, the current screening and quarantine rules remain unchanged.
• A ban on entry into the territory is maintained for non-essential travel by non-EU citizens residing in a third country that is not on the European Union's whitelist, unless they have a certificate vaccination or recovery.
• The ban on entry to the territory is maintained for travellers from countries or regions presenting a new variant of concern (zone at very high risk of VOC).

Telework

• The Consultation Committee invites companies and public services, in consultation with their social partners, to establish a structural system for telework.

Monitoring of the medical situation

The Consultation Committee continues to monitor the epidemiological situation. It will consider five levers that the World Health Organisation foresees to counter a possible resurgence of Covid:

1. Preserve the capacity of genome sequencing to rapidly detect new variants

2. Continue to focus on primary vaccination of unaffected and vulnerable groups, as high vaccination coverage remains the main protection against new variants

3. Make antiviral treatments available and affordable, in addition to vaccination

4. Promote air quality through ventilation and filtration

5. Promote international solidarity in the donation and production of vaccines to reduce the risk of emergence of new variants of the virus.

More information here: https://centredecrise.be/fr/newsroom/code-jaune-partir-du-lundi-7-mars

From 18 February, Belgium’s Corona barometer moves from code red to orange. The decision was made by the Consultative Committee on Friday 11 February. This will mean that the early closing time for the catering industry will disappear and nightlife can open up again. All indoor and outdoor public events will also now be allowed. In addition, teleworking will no longer be mandatory, but will still be the recommended mode of working if possible.

The Consultation Committee considers that Belgium has now reached the peak of the omicron wave with the number of new infections decreasing over the past two weeks and the reproduction number for infections and hospitalisations now below 1.

The detailed consequences for the switch to code orange from Friday 18 February are outlined below.

Catering sector

The early closing mandate is removed and also the restriction on the number of people per table and the requirement to eat and drink only while seated. Back to the bar! However, facemasks remain mandatory for staff. The nightlife sector may reopen at 70% capacity.

Events

All indoor and outdoor public events will now be allowed.

Facemasks should be worn in:

• Non-dynamic indoor activities for all participants and staff.
• During dynamic indoor and outdoor activities, only by staff.

The CST is mandatory for all indoor activities when the number of participants is 50 or more and for outdoor activities from 100 participants.

A capacity of 200 people is now always allowed, but may be increased to:

• 70% for dynamic indoor activities
• 80% in non-dynamic indoor activities and all outdoor activities
• 100% when air quality can be maintained at or below an average target value of 900 ppm CO2 for indoor activities
• 100% for outdoor activities if sections of the audience are at a maximum of 2000 people or less or if additional crowd control measures are taken after positive advice from local safety authorities.

Marriages and funerals ceremonies remain allowed as at present.

Organised leisure activities

There is no longer a maximum capacity for organised outdoor leisure activities, and a maximum capacity of 200 people for organised indoor leisure activities. This maximum number does not apply to sports activities, with the exception of sports camps.

Ventilation

The Consultation Committee underlined the importance of good ventilation of indoor spaces. When a value of 1500 ppm CO2 or a flow rate of 18m3 ventilation per person or 18m3 air purification per hour per person is reached, the capacity must be restricted or other measures must be taken.

Teleworking

The obligation to telework is lifted. However, teleworking is still recommended, whenever possible.

Shopping

There are no longer any restrictions on shopping. The early closing time for night shops is cancelled.

Facemask obligation

The facemask obligation applies from 19 February from the age of 12.

Travel rules

The colour code of the country of origin will no longer taken into account for incoming travellers. Persons who do not have their main residence in Belgium and who travel to our country from EU/Schengen countries or third countries, must from now on have a valid vaccination, test or recovery certificate.

However, the rules for very high-risk zones and essential and non-essential travel continue to apply, as do the 48-hour rule and the exceptions for categories such as carriers and frontier workers.

In line with the European Council Recommendation 2022/107 and the evolution of the worldwide distribution of omicron, the Consultation Committee decided to adapt the certificates as follows:

• The vaccination certificate is valid for 270 days with a basic vaccination and unlimited with a booster vaccination.
• The test certificate will be valid for 24 hours for a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT). Note: only RATs approved at European level are eligible. PCR tests are valid for 72 hours.

The Consultation Committee is asking the Ministers of Health to simplify the testing and quarantine rules when traveling.

Original information source (in Dutch): https://www.info-coronavirus.be/nl/news/occ-1102/. The Belgian COVID information page (in English) can be found here.

Buying your own home is a dream for many people. This dream may take the shape of a flat or studio apartment. In that case, you are not simply buying your own home. In Belgium, you will also become co-owner of the building in which the apartment is situated.

Becoming a co-owner certainly creates opportunities to meet new people and get to know them, but living in a condominium is not always as easy as you expect. To avoid problems, you will need to get involved and take a certain amount of responsibility.

To help (future) co-owners on their way, the King Baudouin Foundation and the Royal Federation of Belgian Notaries (Fednot) have updated their ‘Practical guide for (future) apartment owners’, written in collaboration with the National Syndicate of Owners and Co-owners.

Based on the latest amendments to the law on co-ownership, which came into force in September 2021, the guide provides answers to a wide range of questions. What should you know before buying a property in a condominium? Is it compulsory to have house rules? What should you do if you do not agree with decisions made by the general assembly? How can you limit shared expenditure? How is work on the common parts financed?

You can download the guide here. The guide is available in Dutch, English, French and German.

On Friday (21 January) the Belgian Consultation Committee (at last) approved the corona barometer and barometer-based measures will come into effect on Friday, 28 January under code red. In addition, the booster vaccine will be added to Covid Safe Tickets (CST) from 1 March.

The committee noted that the number of infections is continuing to increase sharply due to the omicron variant and the reproduction rate of infection remains above 1. The number of hospitalisations is also increasing, although the number of intensive care beds occupied by Covid patients is slightly decreasing, which reflects the characteristics of the omicron variant: less pathogenic but much more contagious.

Corona barometer

The long-awaited corona barometer is intended as a tool for proactive policy preparation and communication and should offer more predictability to business sectors and citizens, better structure the decisions of the Consultation Committee, and make them more transparent.

Codes yellow, orange and red

The corona barometer has three phases that reflect the level of pressure on the healthcare sector:

• Code Yellow: epidemiological situation and pressure on hospitals under control;
• Code Orange: increasing pressure on the health system, requiring intervention to reverse the trend;
• Code Red: high risk of overloading the health system.

To determine the applicable code, the Concertation Committee will take into account, in addition to the pressure exerted on healthcare, an overall assessment of the epidemiological situation and will pay particular attention to mental health.

The barometer focuses on public events, HORECA (Hotel/Restaurant/Café) and recreational activities. A distinction is made between indoor/outdoor and non-dynamic/dynamic activities. Other sectors may be added later as the situation evolves. Education and social contacts will not be part of the barometer.

Code red from 28 January 2022

Based on the accelerating increase in the number of hospitalisations, on the high positivity rate and on the intense circulation of omicron resulting in an increasing number of absences in schools, companies, care sectors and public services, the Consultation Committee has decided to launch the code red barometer from 28 January with the following measures.

Public events

Public events like plays and football matches will be allowed indoors and outdoors, with the exception of dynamic indoor events like dance parties.

Wearing a mask is compulsory for everyone inside and outside. The CST is mandatory at all events involving 50 or more participants indoors and 100 or more participants outdoors.

A capacity of up to 200 people is still allowed. An occupancy rate of 70 or even 100% is authorised for the largest venue rooms provided that the air quality is maintained below 900 ppm CO2.

Weddings and funerals are permitted as currently.

HORECA

The closing time for the HORECA sector is extended to midnight. Wearing a mask remains applicable for customers and staff and the CST is mandatory. In addition, the rules concerning the capacity of 6 people per table and the ban on eating while standing still apply. The nightclubs and discos (indoor/dynamic) remain closed.

Organised group activities

Organized group activities such as youth movements, associative life and the practice of sport at a non-professional level are authorised. The maximum capacity is 80 people inside and 200 people outside. Regarding camps, overnight stays are authorised.

Opening of a series of indoor activities

With the exception of nightclubs and dance halls, the following indoor spaces, currently closed, can reopen to the public: amusement parks, indoor playgrounds, animal parks and zoos, subtropical swimming pools and recreational parts of swimming pools, trampoline parks, bowling alleys and darts halls, snooker and billiard halls, paintball centres, laser games, escape rooms, casinos, automatic arcades and betting shops.

Telecommuting, shopping and wearing a mask

Current measures regarding teleworking (four days a week), safe shopping and wearing a mask remain in effect.

Validity of the vaccination certificate from 1 March

Getting a booster dose is an important protective measure against the virus. Consequently, the committee has decided to change the period of validity of the vaccination certificate in the Covid Safe Ticket from 270 days to 150 days from March 1. The validity of the booster dose is not limited in time.

This means that anyone who was vaccinated before 1 October 2021 with one dose (Janssen only) or two doses (Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Oxford) must receive a booster dose before 1 March or their vaccination certification will expire.

The validity of the certificate of reinstatement will also be extended to 150 days.

These changes only affect people over the age of 18.

In a call with the European Commission before Christmas, the British in Europe group asked if the Commission could provide some sort of statement for UK citizens resident in the EU to help with traveling and passport stamping issues.

That statement is now available on the Commission website. The statement - Rules for UK nationals when entering or leaving the Schengen area - can be downloaded here. It is rather basic but may help UK citizens resident in the EU when faced with an intransigent border guard. It is recommended that UK citizens legally resident in an EU country should perhaps save the links on their mobile phones.

The statement does highlight that nothing in EU law prevents border guards from stamping the passport, however there is little practical use in stamping passports of Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries.

BBCA and British in Europe are always interested in your experiences and any issues when entering or leaving the EU/ Schengen area. Keep us informed, so we can help ensure your rights are preserved.

The statement

The document states:

“EU law does not prevent border guards from stamping upon entry to and exit from the Schengen area of travel documents of United Kingdom nationals who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement who are in possession of a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen Member State. The same applies to their family members in the same situation.

The Commission considers that there is little practical use in stamping passports of Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries.

The reason is that stamping a passport serves to establish whether a non–EU national respected the authorised length of a short stay within the Schengen area, but beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement in a Schengen Member State cannot overstay. The usual limitation of a stay of 90 days in a 180 days’ period does not apply to them, irrespective of whether their passport has been stamped or not.

Beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement can use their residence documents issued under the Withdrawal Agreement at the border to prove their residence status and connected rights, such as not being subject to the maximum duration of stay of up to 90 days in a 180 days’ period.

The Commission recommends that all beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement to [sic] obtain the appropriate residence document under the Withdrawal Agreement in their Member State of residence and to [sic] proactively present it to border guards when crossing a Schengen external border.”

Belgium's Card Stop hotline, which allows users to quickly block a missing or stolen bank card, is now a completely free service and has a new number: 078 170 170. Calls to the previous number cost €0.30 per minute – a situation described as “absurd” by Belgian Telecoms minister Petra De Sutter.

The new freephone service commenced on Monday (10 January) and the number is available 24 hours a day in Dutch, French and English. It can also be called from abroad by adding the +32 prefix to the number: +32 78 170 170.

A call to Card Stop will block your payment cards if they are lost or stolen. Similarly, you can call Card Stop and your bank if you have your card, but do not recognize some transactions on your account, or if you think you have given your PIN code etc to a potential fraudster. Since last month the Card Stop website has a new page listing all necessary contact information for all Belgian banks.

The banking sector is considering a possible extension to Card Stop services that can also block digital banking channels to your accounts (e.g. via banking apps). However, this is a complex area and further analysis is being undertaken.

Today (6 January 2022) the Belgian Consultative Committee took stock of the COVID19 epidemiological situation and the health and safety measures required. The rapid spread of the Omicron variant in Belgium is resulting in a sharp increase in the number of infections and, therefore, it was decided to maintain the current measures. The Committee also discussed the medium-term strategy.

The latest scientific data indicates that the Omicron variant is three to four times more contagious but perhaps less pathogenic compared to previous variants. This is already reflected in a rapid increase in the number of infections (+79% last week) and an increase in hospital admissions (+20%). Intensive care unit occupancy continues to decline, but less so than in the previous week.

In view of the current situation, the Committee concludes that it is preferable that measures remain in force. These are outlined below.

Telework

Teleworking remains compulsory, at least four days a week. Only one return day can be scheduled per week, with a simultaneous presence of a maximum of 20% of the staff.

Team buildings and other activities that require a physical presence in the workplace, both indoors and outdoors, remain prohibited.

Meetings, Activities and Events

The restrictions or closures in force concerning certain gatherings, activities and events - for example, in the hospitality industry, nightlife or sporting and cultural life - continue to apply.

Education

The Committee confirms the planned reopening of education from 10 January. This means a return to full-time face-to-face education in nursery, primary and secondary schools, and part-time in arts education. The following preventive measures must be observed:

• permanent ventilation
• wearing a mask is compulsory from 6 years old
• compliance with testing and quarantine measures. Classes will be closed from four infections (symptomatic children) in a class
• meetings continue to be organised online
• the mixing of classes in common interior spaces (study room, dining hall, etc.) should be avoided as much as possible
• day trips are allowed in accordance with the rules in force in the establishment
• extra mural activities with an overnight stay are suspended

The Committee calls on parents to test their children using self-tests whenever possible.

With regard to higher education, the Committee invites the Ministers of Education, in collaboration with the education sector, to assess the basis on which (additional) preventive measures in higher education can be organised from 10 January.

Testing and quarantine measures

The Committee took note of the decision of the Ministers of Public Health who have modified the testing and quarantine policy*. This change will take effect on 10 January.

This new testing and quarantine policy places more emphasis on self-tests. These self-tests are available in supermarkets and pharmacies. People who are on benefits will be able to buy self-tests in pharmacies for just 1 euro (4 self-tests maximum per person and per 14-day period).

Medium-term strategy and barometer

The Committee also examined the preparatory work of the COVID-19 Commission on a medium-term strategy and the Corona barometer project. The COVID-19 Commissioner has been tasked with refining and developing the barometer.

*Policy changes

In terms of testing:

• Workplace testing is abandoned
• High-risk asymptomatic contacts are no longer tested (except for self-tests). Symptomatic high-risk contacts will continue to be tested under current guidelines
• Incoming travellers will continue to be tested
• Departing travellers should retain the option of taking a RAT or PCR test depending on the demand of the destination country. These tests are still possible in all test contexts, not just in airports, etc

In terms of quarantine:

Fully vaccinated high-risk contacts should not go into quarantine but should apply strict preventive measures (mouth mask (preferably FFP2), distance, no contact with vulnerable people, etc.) for up to 10 days after treatment. A fully vaccinated person is someone who has received their booster vaccine, or who received the last dose of their baseline vaccination no more than 5 months ago, or who has had a certificate of recovery no more than 5 months ago. Young people between the ages of 12 and 17, who have received their basic vaccination regardless of the date of vaccination, are considered fully vaccinated.

Partially vaccinated high-risk contacts should go into quarantine for 7 days; From day 4, the quarantine can be lifted on condition of carrying out daily negative self-tests and strictly applying preventive measures (mouth mask (preferably FFP2), social distance, no contact with vulnerable people, etc.) up to 10 days after their high risk contact. A partially vaccinated person is someone who received the last dose of their primary vaccination more than 5 months ago and who has not yet received their booster vaccination.

High-risk, unvaccinated contacts should enter quarantine for 10 days; From the 7th day, the quarantine can be lifted provided that daily negative self-tests are carried out, and that preventive measures are strictly applied (mouth mask (preferably FFP2), distance, avoidance of contact with vulnerable people, etc. until 10 days after high-risk contact.

Children aged 5 to 11 have the status of the adult with whom the child currently reside. This means that the child will have to follow the same quarantine rules as this adult, i.e. if one of the adults is subject to quarantine (or isolation), the child is also subject to quarantine. 

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.

These new rules were backed by federal and regional health ministers on Tuesday (4 January) and will come into effect on 10 January 2022.

The Belgian government has today (4 January 2022) released a handy infographic on the current COVID-19 testing regime applicable to travellers heading abroad and/ or returning home to Belgium.

An image of the infographic is shown below and you can access the pdf version with clickable links here: 20220104 FODKAN_POSTER_OP_REIS_FR.pdf

ICYMI some UK citizens normally resident in Belgium have, since 28 December, been prevented from returning home to Belgium from the UK by car by French authorities. This rule preventing land transit through France follows new guidance on COVID travel restrictions introduced before Christmas and issued to the French Border forces on 28 December. However, the French authorities have now issued further guidance to allow UK citizens resident in EU countries who travelled to the UK on or before 28 December to return without hinderance.

This welcome suspension to allow travel through France for UK citizens returning to their main home in an EU country during the festive period is very welcome. It follows extensive representations to the French authorities by the UK Embassies in France and Belgium and the Belgian authorities.

However, this is a temporary measure and UK citizens are still largely banned from going to France unless they have a compelling reason and return car transit through France for a journey to the UK starting today would not be possible.

The French interior ministry has issued a ‘tolerance instruction’ to facilitate the transit of British nationals through France to reach their residence in an EU country during the end of the year celebrations.

The rules and regulation can always be found on the website of the French Ministry of the Interior.

The current regulations, introduced as part of measures to combat a surge in COVID cases in France, cover travel to France from the UK, which is classified as a COVID red zone. Travel is only authorised for:

• European (EU) nationals returning to their main residence in France or located in another EU country
• Nationals of a third countries holding a long-stay visa or a valid residence permit having their main residence in France

In addition, France has added UK citizens who reside regularly in France and are exempt from a residence permit under the Brexit withdrawal agreement, but can provide proof of residence.

However, British citizens who reside in another EU country, as nationals of a third country, are not covered by this measure and, therefore, cannot transit through France to another EU country while the COVID restrictions are in place.

As many UK citizens residing in an EU country travelled to the UK for the Christmas/ New Year holidays before the new guidance was issued and now would face unexpected difficulties in returning home, the French have issued tolerance instructions to their border forces.

Happy New Year everyone!