In Belgium, on 17 March, Thursday, the authorities are relaxing the restriction of getting quarantine for all of the individuals who have the high-risk contact.
In the previous week, the Interministerial Conference (IMC) on health made the decision to ease up the obligation to quarantine for all of the people.
Moreover, on the previous Monday, the nation has switched to ‘code yellow’, and from the coming Thursday, various health ministers have made the plan to lift the quarantine policy further. It has been confirmed by the cabinet of the Flemish Health Minister named Wouter Beke.
Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke stated, “As far as testing is concerned, nothing changes: if you have symptoms, you have to get tested. That is very important.”
He further added the people who have been tested positive for the COVID-19 infection still have to isolate for a week, as declared at the previous week’s Consultative Committee.
He further added, “What we are modifying is the quarantine strategy. But the infection is still here, so caution remains essential.”
The individuals that have the high-risk contact will no longer be needed to teat or quarantine from Thursday.
Currently, this is for the fully vaccinated individual but not for the people that are partially or the unvaccinated people.
The people who have a high-risk contact within their household that are vaccinated or not are still needed to use a facial mask when they have contact with the other individuals, including those outside the household, for around one week after the high-risk contact.
Meanwhile, if the people are not likely to wear a face cover, a daily self-test is suggested for all of the individuals of the age 6-year-old and more.
Along with this, Joris Moonens of the Agency for Care and Health highlighted, “We do want to emphasise that it is not over yet. Remain vigilant and cautious, and those who are infected should go into isolation. We are currently in a situation where individuals know what to do, so we count on their responsibility.”
