For the third week in a row, all of Europe is still coloured 'dark red' on the latest update of the coronavirus map of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
All the coloured regions in Europe have been coloured dark red since 3 February. For Belgium, this has even been the case since 4 November – making this the 16th consecutive week.
Updated ? maps are online! These maps aim to support the @EUCouncil recommendation on travel measures in the EU during #COVID19 pandemic. Color-blind friendly map in the next tweet. More on the map indicators, according to new Council recommendations: https://t.co/CcBVx6B0o5 pic.twitter.com/ZWW8Wni1EH
— ECDC (@ECDC_EU) February 17, 2022
Different from previous updates, however, is the lack of colour code for Portugal, Malta and Denmark this week. They have not been given a colour as the ECDC does not have sufficient data for them.
Since a few weeks, the vaccination coverage is also taken into account for colour codes, in addition to the number of registered coronavirus infections and the incidence per 100,000 inhabitants over the past 14 days.
Simplified travel rules
On Wednesday, the Interministerial Conference (IMC) on Health also announced more relaxed rules for travellers: Belgium will no longer take into account the colour codes of incoming travellers’ country of origin, but only their individual vaccination, test or recovery status.
In practice, this means that all travellers entering Belgium must show proof of a valid Covid-19 vaccination, test or recovery, regardless of where they are coming from.
Additionally, those entering Belgium with a valid vaccination, recovery or test certificate (such as an EU Digital Covid Certificate) will no longer have to quarantine or get tested upon arrival.
However, those who do not have one of these certificates returning to Belgium from a 'dark red' country must still undergo a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) or PCR test on day 1 after arrival.
An in-depth overview of the new travel rules can be found here and here.
