The coronavirus: The Brussels government doesn’t know what to do next

While the fourth coronavirus wave washes over the country, the Brussels green Health ministers remain silent. The vaccination campaign has failed, and the Covid Safe Ticket is not having the desired effect. “It is clear that the government doesn’t know at all what to do next,” Brussels MP Gilles Verstraeten says.

The fourth wave has begun. The number of hospital admissions in Belgium increased by 56% compared to the previous week. But unlike the other regions, the Brussels government actually has no options left to take additional measures. “The fact that the government has been hiding for weeks and has failed to share figures and information only confirms this perception of powerlessness,” Brussels MP Gilles Verstraeten says.

The vaccination campaign has failed

After months of procrastination, the government finally launched a vaccination campaign in August, aiming to achieve a vaccination rate of 65% by the end of October. It is 26 October, and today Brussels has a vaccination rate of 56.75%, according to Sciensano. “The vaccination campaign in Brussels has failed, and the introduction of the Covid Safe Ticket - which is not being adhered to in many places - is not having the desired effect, as expected. The government waited far too long to take action. A large proportion of Brussels residents have decided not to be vaccinated, and trying to convince them now is an almost impossible task.”

Close businesses again?

Now that the figures are going in the wrong direction again, additional measures may be necessary. But the government acknowledges that Brussels has few additional measures it can still take. According to Inge Neven of the Brussels health inspectorate, the next step in Brussels is to close businesses again, which in turn contradicts the Minister-President’s cabinet.

Green health ministers remain silent

Gilles Verstraeten criticises the absence of Health Ministers Maron and Van den Brandt: “The last comprehensive situation report on the coronavirus figures and the vaccination campaign we received in Parliament was on 16 September. In the meantime, Maron and Van den Brandt are still silent. It is clear that the government doesn’t know at all what to do next. Given that the vaccination rate in Brussels is rising only very slowly, we may be heading for a very tough winter.”