During a press conference about Belgium's new test strategy on Wednesday, Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke seized the moment to support Flemish Minister-President Jan Jambon's call to scrap indoor activities.
Earlier on Wednesday, Jambon stated that he wanted the Consultative Committee to meet early to take stricter measures for all indoor events.
"You have undoubtedly heard Jan Jambon's appeal," Vandenbroucke said. "And indeed, we will have to limit our contacts even further. It is very clear that indoor activities are difficult to secure. That applies to youth activities, to education and also to other sectors, such as cultural events."
Vandenbroucke said that he, like Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, found it useful to reflect on what should be done to bring indoor activities "in line with what is needed."
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He stressed, however, that it was up to De Croo to convene the Consultative Committee, as it falls under his competency as Prime Minister. "I do not want us to get ahead of ourselves," he said.
By explicitly mentioning education as a sector where extra measures are needed, Vandenbroucke also increased the pressure on Jambon and his party colleague Flemish Minister for Education Ben Weyts to take extra coronavirus measures in schools.
At the request of Corona Commissioner Pedro Facon, the GEMS expert group advising the government will meet on Wednesday evening to issue new recommendations about measures that could be taken.
Op mijn vraag komt de GEMS vanavond nog samen. Het Coronacommissariaat zal dat advies analyseren en vervolgens een advies overmaken aan de Premier, minister Vandenbroucke en minister Verlinden. Ondertussen zou het verstandig zijn de kalmte, sereniteit en discretie te bewaren.
— Pedro Facon (@PedroFacon) December 1, 2021
"The Corona Commission will analyse this advice and then issue an opinion to the Prime Minister, Minister Vandenbroucke and [Interior Affairs] Minister Verlinden," Facon tweeted. "In the meantime, it would be wise to keep the calm, serenity and discretion."
