Tomorrow the Consultation Committee will present the long-awaited corona barometer. At the same time, more stringent measures are very likely to be announced. An overview.
–
Our neighboring countries are tightening considerably. In the Netherlands there is a ‘partial lockdown‘and closes the catering industry, in French cities there is a curfew and the cafes are closed. It seems clear that there is a need for tightening up: at European level, only in the Czech Republic are there more infections per 100,000 inhabitants (571) than in Belgium (415). It remains to be seen whether Belgium will follow in the direction of the Netherlands (393) and France (288), although a new lockdown would not be an option. The decisions are normally presented in the afternoon: everyone wants to avoid a scenario where the measures are announced late at night.
Of epidemiebarometer which must integrate all rules per sector is finally proposed. The responsibility for this lies with Corona Commissioner Pedro Facon. The barometer makes a distinction between four levels and must make clear ‘which specific measures apply in the different sectors’. It is also about how many people we are allowed to have as close contacts.
Still to be decided: the threshold values that determine whether the level should be switched, and in which level which province is located. In all probability, the barometer works regionally and not nationally as in the Netherlands. In the Consultation Committee, the Prime Ministers are on the same level as the Prime Minister, which means that they can now weigh more heavily than in the Security Council.
Horeca
Also about the horeca must be decided. Currently, different rules apply to restaurants than to cafes (respectively: with a maximum of ten at the table until 1 am versus with a maximum of four at the table until 11 pm). In the least strict scenario, the Consultation Committee can equate the rules, or can tighten the rules even further with, for example, an earlier closing time or a complete closure.
The companies must be able to continue to work, Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke already emphasized. But what about it telework? According to our sources, this would become mandatory for professions and functions where possible.
This has already been decided:
– .
