COVID-19 – additional measures from Belgium National Security Council

Employers and employees

Working from home is still recommended. If working from home is not possible social distancing measures must be taken into account. If the required distance cannot be guaranteed other measures should be taken into account. We refer to the Generic guide (Belgian only) for combatting the spread of COVID19 at work.

Education

As already known, students can go back to school as from 1 September according to the scenario code yellow, which means that students can go to school for five days a week within all classes and years. However, it is mandatory to wear a face mask for students older than 12 years and for teachers.** **Where outbreaks of the coronavirus are observed there will be a switch to code orange. This color code implies a modification of safety measures, such as a reduced number of school days for the second and third grade of secondary schools.

Travel

• All individuals arriving on Belgian territory after a period abroad of more than 48 hours must complete the Passenger Locator Form.
• All persons returning from a red zone should be tested and remain in quarantine, even if they show no symptoms.
• Anyone returning from an orange zone is recommended to be tested.

Events

The maximum number of attendees at events will be increased (at sports competitions, congresses or cultural events) to 200 people inside and 400 people outside. Wearing a face mask is still mandatory. From 1 September there will be a possibility to deviate from the limits, especially for "permanent infrastructures". It will be the mayor who will examine the application of these possible deviations in the first instance.

For shops

As of 24 August it is again allowed to shop with two people. The time limit of 30 minutes has also been lifted. Shopkeepers can, however, decide to impose stricter rules themselves.

Daily life

• Hygiene measures remain essential.
• Outdoor activities should be preferred wherever possible. Where necessary, spaces should be adequately ventilated.
• Additional precautions should be taken for people belonging to a high-risk group.
• The safety distance continues to apply. People who cannot respect the safety distance must wear a face mask.
• It is possible to have closer contact with 5 different people (=personal bubble).
• Group meetings are limited to a maximum of 10 people. This applies to all meetings, regardless of whether they take place at home or outdoors (e.g. in the park or in a restaurant).
• From now on, a maximum of 50 people will be allowed to sit at the coffee table after a funeral.
• People who have been physically separated in recent months because they come from different countries and who prove that they have a lasting relationship but are not married, will be allowed to cross the border as from 1 September. They will be subject to the same testing and quarantine rules as the others.

See our coronavirus (COVID-19) feature for more information generally on the possible legal implications of COVID-19.