In Wallonia, the extended Covid Safe Ticket (CST), currently required in the catering industry, culture or even at the entrance to sports halls, will be lifted immediately as soon as the corona barometer changes to code yellow. It is in any case the objective of the regional Minister of Health, Christie Morreale who will propose tomorrow/Thursday, to the Walloon government to prepare the implementing decrees so that this immediate lifting is possible.
A desire shared by his Brussels counterpart, Alain Maron. “The evolution of the health situation is reassuring. Therefore, if the next codeco decides to switch to code yellow, we will do what is necessary to put an end to the CST in Brussels. I have always said ‘Not a day too many’ We are working in this direction”, he tweeted. The next consultation committee will take place on Friday, March 4. He will once again look at the health situation in Belgium, with on the menu a probable switch to the yellow code of the corona barometer, signifying the end of almost all restrictions linked to the epidemic, including the use of CST. “This Wednesday morning, in CIM Santé, I proposed to my colleagues that the CST could be lifted as soon as the change to code yellow is confirmed. And tomorrow/Thursday, I will ask the Walloon government to be able to prepare the implementing orders making possible this immediate lifting, in the field of our regional competences”, explained Minister Morreale. The Region is in fact competent only for the extended CST, which currently applies to the entrance to catering establishments, performance halls and even sports halls. The CST requested for travel, major events and nightclubs is a federal responsibility.
“That does not mean that we are going to completely remove the CST which was useful, especially during the fourth wave. But today we can put it away in our toolbox. We said ‘not a day too long’ The situation is improving – the number of patients hospitalized in intensive care has dropped below 300, Editor’s note -; the population needs positive news. For us, the lifting of the CST must be applied immediately during the passage code yellow”, concluded Christie Morreale. Note that this switch to code yellow should take place just a few days after March 1, when the validity period of the Covid Safe Ticket for people over 18 will increase from 270 days (9 months) to 150 days (5 month). In concrete terms, Belgians who received their 2nd dose during the fall must therefore have received a 3rd dose for their pass to continue to be valid… until its use is lifted.