News item
18 June 2021

Consultative Committee: Next step in the Summer Plan starts on 27 June

The federal government and the governments of the federated entities decided today in the Consultative Committee to activate the next step of the Summer Plan on June 27.

The Committee notes that the number of daily hospital admissions has dropped to less than 75 a day over the past seven-day period and that the number of hospital beds occupied by corona patients is below 1,000. The positivity rate has dropped below 4% during the same period.

Complete vaccination

The Consultative Committee emphasizes the importance of people being fully vaccinated to maximize protection. The objective remains to vaccinate as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. As long as fully vaccinated people and people who are not yet fully vaccinated continue to meet, maintaining a safe distance of 1.5 meter and wearing a face mask is advised.

27 June 2021: new step in the Summer Plan

The decline in the number of infections and hospital admissions allows for a new step in the Summer Plan to start on 27 June:

  1. Social contacts: up to 8 people indoors, excluding members of one's own family and children up to the age of 12. This also applies to family holidays in tourist lodging.

    Tourist lodgings that can accommodate more than 15 people are not subject to restrictions, provided that applicable protocols are respected.
     
  2. Shopping: no restrictions on the number of people you can shop with. Face mask remains mandatory.
     
  3. Bars and restaurants:
  • A maximum of 8 people is allowed, not counting children up to 12 years old. A household is allowed to share a table.
  • The mandatory closing time is delayed to 1:00 a.m. This closing time also applies to home delivery restaurants and night shops.
  • The use of plexiglass is permitted on terraces as an alternative to the 1.5-meter rule between tables.
  • Bar sports and games of chance are allowed, provided a face mask is worn.
  • For banquets and receptions, there are no limits any longer on the number of attendees. In all other respects, the rules of the hospitality industry will apply.
  1. Religious services: up to 200 people indoors and 400 people outdoors. When using CERM or CIRM, the provisions of the events industry apply.
     
  2. Markets, annual fairs, second hand and flea markets: if the number of visitors exceeds 5,000 a one-way traffic plan and separate entrance and exit must be provided. Face mask requirement in July and August.
     
  3. Fairgrounds: if the number of visitors exceeds 5,000 a one-way traffic plan and separate entrance and exit must be provided. Face mask requirement in July and August. Hand disinfections before entering the attraction and social distancing between visitors or admitted groups are required. The applicable rules must be posted in the booth or attraction.
     
  4. Permitted capacity for events:
  • Indoor: increase to 100% of CIRM capacity up to a maximum of 2,000 attendees, with an increase to 4,000 attendees for test events and as soon as the COVID Safe Ticket is available and only when the COVID Safe Ticket grants access to the event.
  • Outdoors: increase from 2,500 to 5,000 attendees when only the COVID Safe Ticket provides access.
  1. Gatherings and demonstrations: the nightly ban on gatherings is dropped and restrictions on demonstrations are lifted, subject to compliance with the face mask requirement and the safe distance requirement.
     
  2. Team building events: physical team building events are allowed again.

Service voucher industry

The Consultative Committee has decided to extend the measures in force in the service voucher industry until 30 September 2021, including the employer's obligation to provide face masks and disinfectant gel per performance.

Clarifications

Lastly, the Consultative Committee formulated a number of clarifications:

  • In all sporting activities, each participant up to and including 18 years of age may be accompanied by one member of the same family.
  • Sanitary infrastructure such as locker rooms and showers may be used.
  • When catering activities are provided during events, cultural and other performances, sporting competitions, training sessions and conferences, takeaway is also allowed.
  • Organizers using the COVID Safe Ticket are not required to provide testing opportunities at the entrance to the event.
  • There is no face mask requirement for outdoor events once people are seated.

A next Consultative Committee is scheduled for 16 July.

Finally... 10 tips for enjoying a safe summer

  1. Get vaccinated. The more people are vaccinated, the safer it is for all of us.
  2. Wash your hands regularly. And also follow other hygiene rules such as for coughing or sneezing.
  3. Illness or symptoms? Stay at home and contact your general practitioner.
  4. Test yourself if you have not yet been vaccinated. You can get a self-test from the pharmacist.
  5. Prefer outdoor activities. Because outdoor is safer.
  6. The smaller your group the better. A group of five is safer than a group of fifty.
  7. Has everyone in your group been vaccinated? Then you can take off your face mask.
  8. Ventilate and air out indoor spaces. This is how you avoid a virus cloud inside.
  9. Maintain a safe distance for a while longer. Maintaining a distance of one and a half meters is still safer until everyone is vaccinated.
  10. Keep it safe while traveling, too. Download the digital corona certificate, use your corona app, and find out about local rules.