The Belgian government on Monday ruled out any easing of its anti-Covid restrictions in the coming month, amid fears over the spread of new variants of the virus, including the British variant.
"
We have to be very careful to avoid a third wave,
" Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said during a press conference called that morning.
Read also: Covid-19: Belgium barricades itself in the face of variants
He spoke while calls are multiplying, even within his own majority, to give prospects of reopening to the entertainment and catering sectors, deprived of any activity for nearly four months.
At his side, the virologists acting as spokespersons for the health authorities explained that the caution was justified in particular by the uncertainty about the contagiousness (often considered to be significantly higher) of the new variants in circulation.
"
Their evolution is not yet completely predictable, it is the weeks, the month, the month and a half in front of us which will allow
" to better measure it, affirmed one of them, Yves Van Laethem, describing the Belgian situation. of "
precarious
".
This virologist said that the British variant currently accounted for "
37-40%
" of new infections identified in Belgium, where also circulate to a lesser extent the other two, South African and Brazilian.
On Monday, the new contaminations crossed the 2000 mark per day on average, a figure around which they have fluctuated since December without showing a clear decline.
The pandemic has also caused nearly 22,000 deaths, making Belgium one of the most bereaved countries in Europe, against the backdrop of a slow vaccination campaign (4.4% of those over 18 to date have received a first dose, 2.9% had both).
The current restrictions, in effect until April 1, include a ban on traveling abroad unless there is a compelling reason (cross-border workers are not affected), which has earned the De Croo government reprimands from the European Commission.
This theme of “
non-essential
”
cross-border travel
, which has been banned since the end of January, should be debated on Friday at a meeting of the Belgian government involving the heads of regional executives.