5 June 2021: Yesterday, Belgium announced the rules for international travel…

5 June 2021: The downward trend of all key corona indicators continues. There are currently 1,063COVID-19 patients being cared for in Belgian hospitals; of those hospitalised 364 are on intensive care wards. During the week from 26 to 1 June an average of 1,723 people in Belgium tested positive for the coronavirus. This is 12% down on the figures for the previous week. The positivity rate is 0.44 and the reproductive rate currently stands at 0.85. Considering this positive development, the government gave yesterday the official go-ahead for the announced relaxations from 9 June and introduced the latest travel rules. In summary, bars, restaurants and all other businesses in the hospitality industry will be allowed to open their indoor areas to clients. Both the indoor areas and the terraces can already open as early as 5:00 AM, and can stay open until 11:30 PM. The current rules will continue to apply: a maximum of four people at a table, with tables 1.5 metres apart. The main focus of yesterday’s communication was on travel. The rule remains that people returning from a green or orange zone do not have to undergo a quarantine period. This was already the case today, and this stays the same. From 1 July, travelling to and from red zones will be possible with the European Digital Covid Certificate for travel within the EU. The condition is that you have been fully vaccinated for at least two weeks or that you can present a negative PCR test or a recovery certificate. The government also devised an “Emergency Break” procedure to curb the introduction and spread of any new more infectious variants of coronavirus. Those that enter Belgiumfrom a country or region of the world where such a variant is prevalent will have to quarantine for 10 days. This also applies to people that have been vaccinated. People not resident here that come from “high risk areas” are not allowed to enter the country. On paper all of this makes sense, but I guess that driving compliance will be a big challenge… On display today is a mural from Matthew Dawn – Ham, Ghent, Belgium.