Not only has Spain become an out parity of Europe, added to the red list of some neighbours. Belgium has just banned tourism in several regions of France, Spain and Switzerland, among others, and its “red zone” list is growing.
While much of Europe is experiencing a resurgence of coronaviruses, several countries are introducing new restrictions to and from parts of the continent. Even the closure of borders and the ban of allArray unless they are essential, in certain countries or regions within.
While Belgium is experiencing a large increase in new cases, it also prohibits ensuring that Europeans suffer a worsening crown crisis. On Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs strengthened its red list, adding portions from Switzerland, France, Spain, Bulgaria and Romania to places where it is “unauthorized”. Some 12 new places have been added to the list, adding the Lithuanian total:
That means all non-essential travel to those areas is out of the question. Anyone returning or arriving from red list areas, must be tested for Covid and go into quarantine says the government.
“Red zones are municipalities, districts, cities, regions or countries that have been blocked across the country in question or where Belgian tourists are at the greatest threat of infection. For these areas, Belgium has implemented a formal ban.
“People returning from these spaces will be treated as ‘high-risk contacts’, who must be tested and quarantined or self-insulated.”
The irony is, of course, that Belgian travellers also pose a threat to the rest of Europe with degrees of infection as they are now. This resolution comes at a time when Belgium registers on average more than 500 new Covid-19 infections consistent with the day – an increase of 60% in a week.
Belgium has also expanded its list of “orange zone”–places where visitors are urged to exercise increased caution. Last week Northern Ireland, Wales and four northern regions of England were orange listed.
Belgium is also experiencing a strong accumulation of hospitalizations, with a total number of crown cases exceeding 70,000 – the sixth-worst epidemic to date in the EU. According to Deutsche Welle, the number of patients in intensive care has doubled by one month. Health officials warn that “other younger people are responsible for most new infections.”
(Update: On Wednesday night, Belgium reversed the course and removed the Swiss cantons of Vaud and Valais from the banned areas after they were added on Saturday).
The cantonal government of either country called it “incomprehensible” and urged the federal government to intervene. In the last 14 days, the cumulative infection rate in Vaud is 23 consistent with 100,000 inhabitants, 10 out of 100,000 in Valais. While in Belgium, this figure is 44 reports from Swiss Info. “The Vaud rate is almost part of Belgium’s.”
Switzerland’s criterion for deciding on a “risk zone” is an infection rate of 60 consistent with 100,000 inhabitants. This is based on a five-day trend, and well higher compared to the popular EU of around 20. This is the average used by the bloc in which countries it reopens its borders to tourism.
Could other regions of France soon be on the Belgian Red List? The new infections are successful at more than 1,000 per day, up from 250 per day in July.
Leading fitness experts in France warn that the virus is “circulating more actively again”, due to a lack of respect for social distance and the use of masks.
Already more French regions have been added to Belgium’s orange-list in the past week. So joining Greater Paris (except Seine-et-Marne) and the Pays de la Loire, are the Département du Nord, Haut-Rhin, Haute-Savoie, Meurthe-et-Moselle and the Vosges. This means quarantine and a Covid test are recommended not compulsory on return from those areas.
There is still no motion from Switzerland or France to return to prohibit travel in Belgium. However, amid discussions about a imaginable wave of moment across Europe, this could be a sign of what’s to come. More countries may also decide to move up places, at least high-risk areas, to prohibited areas.
I have three decades of experience as a journalist, foreign correspondent and travel writer-photographer. Working for print, digital and radio outlets on four continents,
I have 3 decades of pleasure as a journalist, foreign correspondent and travel writer and photographer. Working for print, virtual and radio media on 4 continents, I am also an experienced hotel journalist and writer of travel guides and cultural histories in Australia, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Borneo. Deep on the road between my Parisian and Australian bases, I write for Forbes with a globetrotter attitude and a topicality in travel, culture, hospitality, art and architecture. My hobby is to capture the unique people, places and occasions I encounter along the way, whether in words and images. I have a bachelor’s degree in professional writing from the University of Canberra, a master’s degree in European journalism from Robert Schuman University in Strasbourg and a member of the Society of American Travel Writers. Love for my wild local island of Tasmania fuels my commitment to sustainable travel and conservation.