Belgium: cafes, restaurants, major events … it will take a health pass from this Monday
While the French Parliament is debating the extension of the use of the health pass in France, the Covid Safe Ticket (CST), its Belgian equivalent, comes into force on Monday. With more than 6,800 cases per day on average, the epidemic seems to be on the rise for several days in Belgium. The CST, already on trial in Brussels, will now be in force across the country until January 15. You will need to present your health pass to enter bars, restaurants, cafes, sports halls or other “dance halls”.
Events such as trade fairs and conventions with more than 50 people indoors (and more than 200 outdoors) are also affected. “It will also be required in party and performance halls, for visitors to hospitals and nursing homes”, specifies The evening. Unlike France, Belgium avoided further debate by not applying this measure in shopping centers (just like transport or workplaces).
To be able to enter places subject to authorization, the principle is the same as in France. The CST certifies either the complete vaccination of the carrier, the possession or a negative PCR test for 48 hours or a negative antigen test carried out within 24 hours, or a certificate of recovery from Covid dating less than 180 days maximum.
“The instrument will apply to all people aged 16 or over and from 12 years for those who want to visit people hospitalized or living in nursing homes and residential care facilities for vulnerable people”, recalls The evening. And from 12 years old for all mass events.
The valid European certificate
It will be checked, again as in France, thanks to a QR code available on a mobile application or in paper version. In the event of no-show, offenders face fines ranging from 50 to 500 euros. Establishment managers who have not carried out checks face a fine of 2,500 euros. A European health certificate, which all French people received at their second dose, is also valid. But as in France, the implementation of this measure is accompanied by criticism and concerns.
Thus, the RTBF announces that “the association for the defense of freedoms and privacy Charta21 recently brought an action for interim relief before the Brussels court of first instance to suspend the CovidScan application which allows the control of Covid Safe Ticket. ”The hearing is due to be held on December 1st.
On the side of the main confederation of companies in the event sector, we express our fears. “We remain concerned about the competitive position of our companies due to differences with neighboring countries where such measures no longer apply. We are seeing a drop in ticket sales, an increase in no-shows and, unfortunately, the cancellation of events and concert tours ”, deplores an Event Confederation official in RTBF.
Among our neighbors, Italy has also recently decided to apply the health pass. In Europe, Denmark, which was one of the first to have implemented, was already able to withdraw it several weeks ago in the face of good epidemic figures for that period.