31 December 2020: Belgium makes a covid test mandatory for all travelers returning home.

31 December 2020: Update on The Corona Pandemic – The drop in the number of hospitalisations and new covid cases is being confirmed. In the week leading to 27 December on average 1,789 people a day tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. 
The figure is down 29% on the week. The figure is dipping below 2,000 for the second successive day now. It's the first time in three months that the figures are so good. Experts, however, are warning against too much optimism, fewer people are having themselves tested during the Christmas holidays and the impact of family gatherings and vacationers still has to be seen. But still, Belgium is doing particularly well compared to other European countries. We are currently having an incidence of 260 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the past two weeks. In the Netherlands, this is 907, in Germany 379 and in France 277. The U.K. is facing a figure of 720 and is struggling with the new variant of coronavirus. As a consequence, there is a growing fears that international travellers may import the coronavirus in times when Belgian figures are improving. Therefore, the government announced yesterday tighter measures for holiday makers returning home. The new rules will apply to anybody returning to Belgium after a stay of at least 48 hours abroad. People will have to undergo a corona test upon arrival, self-isolate for 7 days and take a new corona test after one week. The new scheme will come into force as from today, and will apply at least until 15 January. All of this makes perfect sense to me; however, I’m wondering how one can drive compliance to these rules. The occasional checks in airports, on international trains and on motorways will most likely not do the trick. Anyhow, we’re happy that we stayed at home but we’re missing our international travel. Today’s picture was taken in Ollantaytambo, the gateway to the Amazon and Machu Picchu 4 years ago - Ollantaytambo, Peru.