This Thursday, the political world got carried away following the exit of Georges Gilkinet in the columns of the Evening. Deputy Prime Minister Ecolo pleaded for the next consultation committee to decide to switch from code red to code orange and also to relax the rules in sectors that are not directly affected by the corona barometer. He then considered that this “Codeco” will take place on February 11.
A date which was immediately nuanced by Flemish Minister-President Jan Jambon (N-VA) and the Prime Minister’s entourage. Yes, Alexander De Croo is in contact with the various Minister-Presidents to set a date and convene the next Consultation Committee. The day of this one is therefore not yet known but a decision should fall at the beginning of next week.
What to expect?
If a new Codeco is in the cards, it is to consider switching to the Orange code. Theoretically, the orange code is in force when the new daily hospitalizations are between 65 and 149 (we are at more than 350) and the occupation of intensive care between 300 and 500 beds (432 currently). But the contaminations are decreasing and “the trend of the figures must always be taken into consideration to possibly accelerate a phase change in one direction or the other”, according to the barometer.
For Georges Gilkinet, the Omicron variant completely changes the situation. “We must draw all the political conclusions. Saying ‘not a day too long’ for the Covid Safe Ticket (CST) and the exceptional measures that we had to take should not be a slogan. That day is approaching”, according to the ecologist. In his eyes, “normality consists in giving back all the freedoms to the Belgians as soon as possible. This time has come. We will continue to monitor the statistics published daily by Sciensano, but it is time to move on. Let’s speed up the movement,” he urged.
This new meeting should therefore discuss the health situation at that time and decide to set a date for the switch to code orange.
The Vandenbroucke brake
Questioned in the Chamber by Kathleen Verhelst (Open Vld) and Jan Briers (CD&V), Frank Vandenbroucke felt that touching the barometer was “exactly what should not be done”. “And we’re not going to set a date. The barometer does not work like that. In theory, code orange is in effect when new daily hospitalizations are between 65 and 149 (we are at more than 350) and the occupation of intensive care between 300 and 500 beds (432 currently). Belgium is currently in code red. “The phased plan will be covered,” concluded Frank Vandenbroucke.