(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, DECEMBER 27 - Also in Belgium the hypothesis of compulsory vaccination is being made, at least in the version already adopted by Germany and Austria, the two countries that have imposed 'de facto' an almost total lockdown for those who have not been vaccinated.
Alexander De Croo, head of the Belgian federal government, in an interview with the Flemish-language newspaper De Zondag, abandoned the caution he had hitherto adhered to and stressed that "the goal is clear: we must vaccinate everyone if the road to compulsory vaccination can contribute, they are ready to take it into consideration ". The pandemic, for the premier, will not end with the fourth wave and we must learn to live with it.
De Croo's position is supported by his party, the iliberals of Open Vld, according to which - according to local media - only the vaccinated (and no longer also those who test negative to a swab) must have access to theaters, restaurants, cafes and everyone other public meeting places. In any case, any proposal on the mandatory nature of the vaccine should be discussed and approved by Parliament.
In the meantime, the data on infections show a reduction in people hospitalized in intensive care although the rate of positiveness remains above 10%.
But fears are growing that this trend could stop if not reverse also due to the affirmation of the Omicron variant expected for the next few days.
Signals in this sense have come from the Brussels capital region where there has been an increase in contagions among young people, particularly in the 21-29 age group.
In the meantime, protests by the cultural sector took place over the Christmas weekend in Brussels and elsewhere against the latest restrictive measures introduced.
(HANDLE).