Interference in the future in sports and culture: ‘Protocols must …

At the plenary meeting, the questions to Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open VLD) harshly criticized his approach to the corona crisis. De Croo calls for ‘confidence in the measures taken.’ He also announced an entanglement in the sports and culture world.

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Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open VLD) argues in favor of sticking to the measures taken and closely monitoring their effects. So there will be no lockdown for the time being, although several virologists ask for it. ‘We should not continuously change strategy.’

In view of the rapidly increasing figures, adjustments must be made, he thinks. For example, the protocols in the field of sport and culture must be ‘brought into line with the stricter measures of last Friday’. These strands will be recorded on Friday at the Consultation Committee. Earlier today, the Flemish Minister of Culture Jan Jambon (N-VA) said he had agreed with his French and German-speaking colleagues that a ‘slight adjustment’ in the cultural sector would be sufficient.

In between the lines, De Croo was critical of N-VA’s opposition. For example, he emphasizes that they must ‘defend decisions together’, probably alluding to the communication from N-VA, in which the party repeatedly stated that they reluctantly agreed to the closure of the catering industry. De Croo calls for a stop to partitioning the land, as the virus is now everywhere. ‘Almost all provinces are now at level four, except for Limburg, but that is only a matter of time.’ Earlier this week, a map with the deep red figures in Wallonia was eagerly circulating in N-VA circles.

‘Increase test capacity to 100,000 per day’

MEPs also strongly criticized the changed testing strategy. They denounced the lack of clarity towards the citizen. Cathérine Fonck (CDH) called it ‘a failure’. De Croo reminds them that Belgium is at the European top in terms of test capacity. ‘At the peak, we did 72,000 tests a day.’ The government hopes to soon increase this to 90-100,000 per day.

Since this week, only people with symptoms are tested. ‘The figures have increased so much that we had to start testing as a matter of priority,’ says De Croo, ‘but we have not started testing less.’ He points out that other countries have also started testing as a priority as a result of the rising figures. The prime minister is also not aware of the criticism that the test labs cannot deliver the test results within 48 hours. 90 percent respect the deadline of 48 hours. The labs do everything in their power to meet the requirements we set as well as possible. ‘

The prime minister does express his understanding for the healthcare sector. ‘We are doing everything we can to make healthcare professions more attractive.’ For example, he points out that in the new social agreement, 600 million euros will go recurrently towards improving working conditions. ‘But the best measure to take the pressure off is of course to reduce our social contacts.’

Avoid unnecessary contacts

Reducing social contacts is clearly the spearhead in the fight against corona. That is also the line of defense that De Croo maintains to defend the closure in the hospitality industry. Peter Deroover (N-VA) and Kathleen Verhelst (Open VLD) pointed out the disappointment among the catering operators. “We have always been very clear that they are not to blame,” replies De Croo. The closure has come about because unnecessary social contacts take place within that sector. He dismissed alternatives: “We saw that the Netherlands first tried a curfew for the catering industry, but after a week they have already abandoned it to go to a complete closure.”

De Croo once again explained the priorities of the strategy. Guaranteeing healthcare for all Belgians is the first priority. In addition, children and young people must be able to continue to go to school. Mental health and economics are the government’s third and fourth priorities.

Finally, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo urges his colleagues to calm down. “We must radiate confidence.” Constant change of strategy does not contribute to this, he thinks, but steadfastness and teamwork do. ‘We have conceived the fight against corona as a team sport, among the population, but also among those who make the decisions.’

During the plenary meeting it became known that the Consultation Committee will meet this evening at 8 pm and therefore not tomorrow, as previously planned. There will be a first discussion that will be resumed on Friday.

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