Belgium, which has experienced two disastrous coronavirus waves, has discovered a formula for success: the third will not be

More than 11 million. The number of deaths and deaths has been stable since December in a population that had previously been identified as one of the European countries most affected by the coronavirus. At the end of October, after reaching the most difficult stage of the second wave in many parts of Belgium, 100 thousand. the population had an average of a thousand cases. According to the Sciensano public health service, a tenth of the number of cases now remains, and the number of deaths has similarly decreased over the same period.

With many other European countries still failing to curb the growing number of cases and ease the burden on hospitals, the question is already being raised: has Belgium really managed to find the right mix of measures to combat the coronavirus? Politico.eu is trying to find out.

Lawmakers and public health experts alike point to the same potential reason for success: The government has long decided to avoid any drastic changes in coronavirus management policies, including holiday measures. It was decided to follow the direction set in October. When it was decided to relax the restrictions, this was done gradually and carefully. According to some experts, this achievement should allow Belgium to focus on vaccinating the population and gradually move away from quarantine.

“Currently, Belgium is like a tight corset that cannot be loosened,” explains Yves Van Laethem, infectious disease specialist and spokesman for the Belgian COVID-19 crisis center. – It’s been going on for almost four months. Except [gruodį atidarytas] non-essential goods stores, there were no more significant changes.

“The next few months will be crucial for us. We will not have a third wave unless there is a surprise,” added Van Laethem.

Could you find a recipe for success?

In March of last year, the coronavir did everything possible to destroy Belgium, one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. The number of cases and deaths, especially in nursing homes, has reached record levels. The restrictions imposed were relaxed in the summer, but as early as late September, the country was in a rush to respond to the growing threat posed by colder weather and the impending second powerful wave.

October 1, the government of Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who assumed command of the country, realized that it could no longer repeat the mistakes of its predecessor. Following a warning from Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke about a “tsunami” of the virus, Belgium has introduced one of the strictest quarantines in Europe.

In Belgium, most convenience stores were closed, as well as restaurants, bars and hairdressers. In addition, a nighttime curfew was introduced and only close contact was allowed outside their home, even during Christmas. This is in stark contrast to the much looser rules on social contacts that apply in other countries.

Belgium has recently effectively banned unnecessary travel. The insurance is valid from January 27 to March 1. He forced Belgians to spend their traditional February “Carnival” holiday week at home. This solution is also the opposite of the situation in many countries of the European Union, with some exceptions.

However, in private conversations, Belgians often complain of a kind of paradox. Although schools, museums and shops are now open and public life is much more intense than it was during the first quarantine, restaurants, bars and cinemas are closed and residents must comply with the one “bubble” rule. person.

The government adviser on COVID-19 and a spokesman for the government crisis center, virologist Steven Van Gucht, believe that Belgian politicians have learned from the mistakes made last August and September. At the time, many experts still grossly underestimated the “virus alert force.” The situation changed dramatically in November with the introduction of the one-stop-shop rule, known in Dutch as “knuffelcontact”, the expert notes. It also takes note of the decision not to ease the restrictions during the Christmas period.

“It just came to our attention then. But it was really worth it.” Belgium is one of the few countries where the number of cases has not increased since Christmas, “explains Van Gucht.

“Since the beginning of the second wave, we tried to communicate very consistently and clearly about things like restricting social contacts, traveling and following the rules. The full combination of stable tools helped, not just one tool. The secret to success is consistency, ”added Van Gucht.

He also praised the Belgians’ own “perseverance”, for example wearing masks when necessary.

“Finally, the advisers or the politicians can speak what they want. However, if the people do not follow the instructions, there will be no benefit,” said Van Gucht.

Wouter Verschelden, a Flemish journalist and media entrepreneur, believes that the joint effort was really serious, perhaps even ideal.

“Few people can really follow the one-touch rule. But there is a Belgian way of following the rules: it is called common sense, ”says Verschelden.

Institutional problems

Like other countries in the European Union, Belgium now faces the problem of a slow vaccination process. A few weeks ago, the doses used for vaccination were five percent. of all defaults, as in most of the bloc countries. And at the time, the UK had a figure of 24%. However, unlike other countries, such as Germany, where the vaccine ‘mess’ has turned into a heated political bullying, in Belgium, outright dissatisfaction with the vaccination situation is less frequent.

According to experts, a bigger problem is the country’s multi-layered political system, often described as “institutional stratification,” which makes it difficult to harmonize the limitations of the pandemic, fostering delays, confusion and different evaluations of strategies.

For example, in Brussels and in the French-speaking region of Wallonia, the curfew is from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and in Flanders from midnight to 5 a.m. The same occurs with the division of responsibilities between the regional and federal governments. Assume that the medical staff working in the hospitals falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government, while the responsibility for the nursing home staff rests with the regional government.

There are also discrepancies related to the opening of schools. In Flanders, a week before the February school holidays, distance education was introduced for all secondary school pupils, while French-speaking schools continued blended learning before the holidays, combining face-to-face learning already distance.

“It’s still difficult to ensure consistency,” said Jean Faniel, director of the Center for Research and Social and Political Information, a research institute in Brussels.

When power is so divided between people and institutions, it is much easier for policy makers to avoid responsibility by justifying disorder. According to Faniel, a good example of this is the widely discussed role of former Health Minister Maggie De Block in destroying millions of masks in 2019, which affected medical workers just before the pandemic began.

Currently, Belgians, like everyone else, are trying to overcome the fatigue of quarantine. Recent polls show that Belgian patience is waning. February 26 A meeting of the Government Advisory Committee on COVID-19 will be held to discuss the fate of the restaurant, non-travel, culture and events sectors.

“There will be no shortage of challenges in the coming weeks. There was already a well-known danger. People are getting more and more tired. Instructions are still being followed, but spirits are fading,” admits S. Van Gucht.

“We will look for ways to safely adapt measures to better meet the social needs of people, especially young people, without the virus having much of a chance to spread,” added Van Gucht.