Belgium: Authorities reduce COVID-19-related curfew hours in Wallonia from March 1 /update 30

Belgium reduces COVID-19-related curfew hours in Wallonia from March 1; significant business and transport disruptions continue.

Event

Authorities in Belgium have reduced the hours of the existing COVID-19 curfew in Wallonia. Effective March 1, the new curfew hours in Wallonia run 0001-0500, representing a two-hour reduction over the 2200-0500 curfew that had previously been in place. Curfew hours in Flanders and the city of Brussels remain 0001-0500 and 2200-0600 respectively. Residents may not leave their homes during curfew hours, except for essential purposes, such as seeking medical help or performing essential work.

In addition to the curfews, the following domestic restrictions remain in place:

Entertainment establishments, leisure facilities, and close-contact services are closed; however, hairdressers are allowed to operate.
Catering establishments are closed except for delivery and carryout services, which are permitted until 2200.
Facemasks must be worn on public transport, as well as in enclosed spaces and busy outdoor areas as defined by local authorities.
Public gatherings are limited to four people.
Working from home remains mandatory wherever possible.
Individuals are only allowed close contact (no social distancing required) with one person they do not live with per month; each household may host one close contact per month; people who live alone are allowed two close contacts.

International Travel
Authorities have banned all nonessential travel to and from Belgium; the measures apply to all road, air, sea, and rail traffic. Exceptions include travel for compelling family reasons, humanitarian reasons, study purposes, commuting by cross-border workers, professional purposes, and emergency reasons, such as animal care, emergency vehicle repairs, and moving. All permitted arrivals staying in Belgium for more than 48 hours must complete a Passenger Locator Form within the 48 hours before arrival, fill in and carry a sworn statement confirming the essential nature of their travel, and possess a negative result from a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken within 72 hours before departing for Belgium. Based on answers given in the Passenger Locator Form, health officials may contact travelers and require them to self-isolate for at least seven days; currently, only travelers from Denmark, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Norway, and overseas territories of France and Portugal may not be required to self-isolate on arrival.

Belgian officials also enforce additional quarantine protocols for arrivals from the UK, South Africa, and South America. Travelers from these regions must complete a 10-day quarantine and take COVID-19 PCR tests on the first and seventh days of the quarantine.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments.