Belgium has been facing a new wave of Covid infections for several days. “This is reflected in a further increase in hospital admissions, by more than 43% in the last two weeks”communicates the office of the Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit). “During the summer holidays, the capacity of hospitals is more limited. Many healthcare providers take this opportunity to take a rest. It is therefore essential to avoid overloading the healthcare system by continuing to focus on vaccination and a number of other precautionary measures.”
After consulting the Ministers of Public Health and the opinions of the Risk Assessment Group (RAG), the Risk Management Group (RMG) and the Strategic Scientific Committee (SSC), Minister Vandenbroucke is calling people who do not have haven’t had their 3rd dose yet to pick it up ASAP. Ditto for people with reduced immunity due to treatment or illness who have not yet received their 4th dose. Finally, he also calls for caution to all those who are in contact with these immunocompromised people.
However, there is still no question of convening a consultation committee (Codeco), as in the heyday of the pandemic. The Covid is also not on the agenda of the next three kerns (restricted ministers’ councils) scheduled for the weekend. The federal government says it is keeping a close eye on the evolution of the epidemiological situation, but the level of hospitalization has not yet reached the critical threshold which requires major changes to be announced. On the political agenda, the concern is regarding the start of the new school year (school and parliamentary).
In the regions, we are currently focusing more on awareness-raising. Wallonia will send letters to immunocompromised people to make them aware of seeking their fourth dose. the region expects a significant rebound in contamination upon the return from the summer holidays. If there are still no official recommendations for a fourth dose, the region is preparing “to deploy around twenty vaccination centers at the start of the school year”confides to us the office of the Walloon Minister of Health Christie Morreale. “We would only vaccinate at the start of the fall. We advise those who have not yet taken their third dose to do so.”
In Brussels, the mask remains compulsory in pharmacies and medical practices. And if it is no longer compulsory in public transport, it remains recommended for the most fragile. A point that Vandenbroucke supports by calling on vulnerable people to be careful. “If you have immunity problems, it is well advised to wear an FFP2 mask on public transport. In addition, the most important thing for this category – which represents 320,000 people – is to be vaccinated a fourth time.”
The evolution of the figures over the next three weeks will make it possible to see whether a changeover might take place.
