Covid in Belgium: all travelers who arrived from China this Tuesday morning presented a negative test
On Sunday, travelers since going to Belgium from China must indeed present such a certificate. A royal decree to this effect was published on Saturday. This follows the European recommendations in this area.
Asked by opposition MPs Frieda Gijbels (N-VA), Kathleen Depoorter (N-VA), Catherine Fonck (Les Engagés) and Sophie Rohonyi (DéFI), Frank Vandenbroucke added that imposing a test was the first step in the measures taken to stem the spread of Covid-19 outside China, where the health situation is described as “worrying”. It concerns the first nine direct flights planned from the publication of the royal decree. In a second step, a “more sustainable management” via Sciensano is planned. The public health institute must “implement a more comprehensive strategy for multiple flights, for all sewage, etc.” “The focus is on China, because the information is unreliable,” said Frank Vandenbroucke.
The minister also justified the fact that only direct flights were concerned by the test, “because there is a greater probability of contamination”.
Frank Vandenbroucke also wanted to reassure about the health risk in Belgium. “The reported variant is the BF.7. It doesn’t really present a new risk to us. We had a big vaccination campaign, a booster campaign, and built-in resistance to this sub-variant of Omicron. Vigilance must above all be required vis-à-vis other variants, ”concludes the Minister.
In opposition, the N-VA insisted that the World Health Organization (WHO) put more pressure on China, which “must be transparent”.
Catherine Fonck for her part criticized a “late” reaction from the minister, recalling that several planes had landed before the publication of the royal decree. “Do you have absolute confidence in the tests carried out in China?” She also asked.
For her part, Sophie Rohony called for the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) to be reactivated for travelers from China.