Minister of Children and Health, Culture, Vice-President… Bénédicte Linard occupies several different portfolios within the government of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. Guest of Matin Première, Minister Ecolo addresses the issue of the health protocol for children as well as the arrival of a barometer for the management of the covid crisis which would also concern the cultural sector.
AT the continuation of the last CIM Santé, the different authorities of this country “strongly” recommend that parents have their school-age children undergo a self-test from Sunday January 9, and repeat this process once a week.
” A recommendation is not an obligation “, explains Bénédicte Linard on Monday at the microphone of Thomas Gadisseux. For the moment, it is the parents who pay if they want to have their child tested before the start of the school year.
The Minister adds: ” The question of obligation will come at some point and we will also address the cost. Is it relevant to have repetitive self-tests for all the students or for some of the students? Is this possible at the organizational level? “
Even if many questions remain in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation as in the other federated entities on self-tests, the Minister defends the recommendation: ” There is this recommendation because we had 3 weeks of family life. It is important that everyone can come safely to school “.
According to Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke, the government has spent 200 million euros in the last three months alone on PCR tests. He calls on his colleagues from other entities to also contribute, in particular the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
Bénédicte Linard replies: ” The question does not arise in these terms today. Even before the obligation of self-tests is on the table, there are other questions to be asked including the cost, but not only. “
Barometer and cultural sector
A barometer to manage the covid crisis in the future is in preparation and Bénédicte Linard is delighted: ” It is really important for the cultural world, but not only, to have a tool of predictability. However, it should not be frozen, because the virus can change and situations can vary from month to month. There are going to be festivals this summer, and those concerned need to know today how they are going to organize themselves. “
The Minister of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation sees another advantage with this barometer which is supposed to see the light of day : ” Allow no longer to close the culture since depending on the evolution of the epidemic, we will know where we can go and what will be put in place for the public. “