D-1 before the winter school holidays. And since it won’t be possible to celebrate Christmas at your home with more than one close contact, you might be tempted to book a last minute trip to change the air or a cottage in the depths of the Ardennes (see question 8) to discreetly invite more guests than the law currently allows. If that is the case, beware of (possible) consequences.
1. Where can I go?
All trips abroad are still currently not recommended, but not prohibited. You are therefore free to travel wherever you wish. However, the authorities have indicated that they will put measures in place for you in deter.
“We are looking at how to ensure that, by December 18, there is no not so easy to cross the border “, according to a statement, at the beginning of last week, by Karine Moykens, president of the Interfederal Testing and Tracing Committee.
2. What if I go to the red zone?
It is moreover from this Friday, December 18, 2020 that the rules concerning red zone returns become stricter again. It is no longer possible to escape from a quarantine of at least 10 days, nor to a compulsory test on the seventh day. Note that in the event of a positive result, the quarantine will then have to continue for a further 7 days.
“We are looking at how to make it so that by December 18 it is no longer so easy to cross the border.”
As a reminder, since mid-October, people returning from a stay of more than 48 hours in a red zone were no longer automatically required to quarantine themselves or to undergo a screening test. A decision was made case by case for each traveler on the basis of the data provided in the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) – the form that anyone staying abroad is required to complete at least 48 hours before their return – and a “self-questionnaire” Evaluation”.
Based on the answers provided, the form calculated whether you were high risk of having been infected with the virus. If you then received an SMS, then you had to observe a quarantine. If you did not receive anything, you could opt out of it (until December 17 included).
3. What about the children?
Quarantine measures apply to children from the age of 6. On the other hand, children under the age of 6 have no obligation to be tested upon returning from a red zone, unless they show symptoms.
In other words, to go to the red zone is to take the risk of make your child miss school days, unless of course these take place in distance at the start of the school year. But if these courses are planned face-to-face, you will be required to provide a quarantine certificate at his school. This can be obtained from your doctor.
4. What about my salary?
If you need to quarantine yourself following a trip to the red zone, you too will need to provide a quarantine certificate to your employer.
If your job does not allow teleworking, you will not be entitled to your salary or temporary unemployment benefits.
If you can telecommute, your employer will be required to pay you your wages. If your function does not allow it, know that you will logically not entitled to your salary nor to temporary unemployment benefits, because you left in an area that is not recommended for a non-essential reason.
5. What about my assistance insurance?
Please note, when an area is not recommended by the FPS Foreign Affairs, it may happen that your insurer refuses to assist you on the spot. For example, those who are insured with Allianz benefit from all of their assistance coverage, in the red zone, with the exception of assistance for cases related to Covid-19. Better to know. So check with your insurer before leaving.
6. What if I don’t respect the mandatory quarantine?
When she announced the return of compulsory quarantine, Karine Moykens also indicated that there would now be a stricter control of compliance with quarantine and screening measures, as well as the filling of the PLF.
There will now be stricter monitoring of compliance with quarantine and screening measures, as well as the filling of the Passenger Locator Form.
Information confirmed by the authorities of the Walloon Region which specify that, until at least January 15, part of these controls will be organized “at the borders to check that people returning from red zones have completed their passenger tracking form “, but also to check that the quarantine measures are being observed.
Not convinced? Interviewed last week by Bel RTL, Christophe Bruck, the operational director of the federal police in the province of Luxembourg, also indicated that the police will be particularly strict and that it will carry out numerous checks. Whether for return from vacation and compliance with mandatory quarantines on return from abroad, as for end gatherings inside more than 2 people outside a household.
7. What are the penalties?
The fine for non-compliance with sanitary measures amounts to 250 euros, amount that can be increased for repeat offenders. Otherwise, fines for illegal parties (the famous lockdwon party) have just been increased to 750 euros this week. For the organizers, they can go up to 4.000 euros.
The public prosecutor’s office can also decide to summon people directly to the criminal court. “The public prosecutor will also be able to seize the equipment used (sound system, beer pump, vehicle of the organizers, mobile phone…). (…) He will also have the possibility of seizing the vehicles of the participants.” “No one will be able to say: ‘I did not know“, commented Ignacio de la Serna, Attorney General of Mons.
“The targeted gatherings are those which, by their very nature (excessive alcohol consumption, music, event organized in advance, etc.), the large number of participants and the state of mind of the participants, testify to a clear desire to transgress the measures taken to limit the spread of the coronavirus “, specifies the circular.
Finally, note that the Minister of the Interior, Annelies Verlinden, assured that the police do not would ring not systematically at the gates during the end of year holidays. But she will if she hasindications of non-compliance with measures, she underlined, indicating that, in such a case, the local police were allowed to enter a home.
As a reminder: to enter a home, the police must benefit from the prior written consent of the person who resides in that place.
However, if it finds an infringement of the measures in the act, the police will eventually be able to enter the premises, but only if they have theprior agreement of the public prosecutor.
8. Can I make a reservation with friends?
The rental and occupancy of a gîte or any other tourist accommodation must be done within the framework of the family home. (possibly with a close contact person) and is therefore not allowed with friends, according to a reminder from the governors of the five Walloon provinces.
Of targeted checks will be organized (see question 6) and any sanctions (see question 7) applied with firmness, they warn.