All measures implemented in the fight against the coronavirus will be reviewed in early March when the next Consultative Committee meeting takes place to discuss the management of the pandemic, Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said on Sunday.
The issue of the facemask mandate in secondary schools will, therefore, also be discussed then, Minister Vandenbroucke said on “De Zevende Dag” and “C’est pas tous les jours Dimanche” programmes on VRT and RTL-TVi channels respectively.
The minister said a distinction needed to be made between places where one chooses to go, like discotheques, and places where one is obliged to be, such as schools and public transport. “Masks in school also protect the school and all its pupils,” he said.
From next Saturday, facemasks will only be mandatory for persons aged 12 years and above in stores, public transport, and schools. Primary school students will thus be exempted.
Some politicians, such as Flemish Education Minister Ben Weyts have already made it clear that they hope the facemask mandate will also be relaxed soon in secondary schools.
