Travelling to and from Belgium will become a lot easier. Since yesterday, the country lifted the mandatory use of face masks and a series of travelling obligations, including testing upon return to the country or entry into Belgium.
This means people will no longer have to wear a face mask in public transport.
Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium
1. Goodbye face masks
The scrapping of these restrictive measures was agreed during the Consultative Committee, on Friday, which counted with the participation of Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke and the Minister-President of each region.
Belgian authorities have decided to deactivate the country’s Covid-19 barometer as of today, a toll which was established to assess the seriousness of the crisis. With the end of the barometer, the obligation of using facemasks on public transport and the ban on non-essential travel to non-European countries is over.
“This means people will no longer have to wear a face mask in public transport,” said De Croo. However, citizens and residents are still required to cover their mouths and noses when visiting hospitals, doctor’s offices and pharmacies.
Despite the withdrawal of restrictions, wearing a mask remains recommended in very busy places and in healthcare environments such as residential care centres or when going to the dentist, physiotherapist, psychologist or even speech therapist.
2. Travel
The ban on non-essential travel from outside the European Union will also be lifted, as will the obligation to get tested on days 1 and 7 upon return to Belgium. Moreover, incoming passengers won’t need to worry about the 10-day quarantine and the requirement to present a Passenger Locator Form (PLF). Finally, in what seems like the last bullet on pandemic restrictions, a valid vaccination, recovery or test certificate will also be gone.
“However, this does not apply to travellers coming from a country with a new variant of concern. For them, the current rules continue to apply,” added De Croo.
