Pandemic fatigue has been around almost as long as the pandemic itself. Now, more than two years since Covid-19 reared its ugly head, there is a universal desire to get on with our lives and make up for lost time. Whether in our personal lives or on the world stage, it seems that we have more important things to be worrying about.
Gone are the days when politicians and public health advisers fought hard to galvanise the public around the latest measures. As far as day to day restrictions go, apathy for any measure that would put a damper on going about your daily business can be seen among lawmakers on high to daily commuters.
And with Belgium's figures moving in the right direction, the conditions seem to allow us to consign the virus and its hardships to history. Besides, summer is fast approaching and venues have been doing business unrestricted for several weeks. So the lingering mask mandate on public transport may strike many as more than just a minor inconvenience, but completely inconsistent with the many other public gatherings that can now take place unrestricted.
A quick look around passengers on a Brussels tramline highlights the widespread disregard for this last vestige of Covid restrictions: less than half of those on board were bothering with a mask. And though the observation was very localised and small, it still tells of the general attitude: "laisse tomber!"
Belgium's Consultative Committee will discuss the public health situation at the end of next week, when obligations will almost certainly be softened to recommendations.
Until then, will you keep wearing the mask? Let @Orlando_tbt know.
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1. Masks on public transport? Many Brussels passengers disregard the requirement
Despite face masks still being mandatory on public transport, many passengers don’t bother, Bruzz reports. To illustrate the point, reporters counted 200 passengers on the route of tram 92 between Stefania and Schaerbeek station: only 93 were wearing a mask. Read more.
2. Belgians see savings shrink amid inflation and high energy costs
The total amount of money in Belgian savings accounts dropped noticeably in March, according to National Bank figures. Read more.
3. European airports expect significant disruptions this summer
Brussels Airport expects to have a busy summer as many countries have relaxed their Covid-19 restrictions and people are keen to travel again, reported Le Soir. Read more.
4. Working from home very popular among Belgians, particularly on Fridays
As people leave the Covid-19 pandemic behind them, there are some silver linings to the last two years. Working from home was once considered unusual but now it is increasingly seen as the norm. Read more.
5. Covid-19 patients in Belgian hospitals drops below 2,000
For the first time since early March, the total number of Covid-19 patients in Belgian hospitals has dropped below 2,000, according to figures published by the Sciensano Institute of Public Health on Tuesday. Read more.
6. ‘De-Putinise the world’: Ukraine urges Belgium to change Russian embassy addresses
The ‘Ukraine Street’ project is calling on Belgium and the world to make Ukraine a part of its capital cities by changing the addresses of Russian embassies and consulates to Ukraine streets. Read more.
7. Hidden Belgium: Saint Dymphna Procession
One week from today, the Saint Dymphna Procession is held in Geel (15 May). Once every five years, the small city in the Kempen countryside celebrates the Irish saint who was beheaded by her father for refusing to marry him. She became the patron saint of mental illness and led to Geel developing a unique system of care in the community. Read more.
