Dödligt virus från Kina orsakar panik (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19)

On 29 January, Belgium issued a travel notice advising against non-essential flights to China, Hong Kong excluded, with some travel companies cancelling all flights to China.[77]

On 1 March, as a second case of coronavirus was confirmed in Belgium, phase 2 of the health risk containment strategy was activated.[78][further explanation needed] The mayor of Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe, Olivier Maingain, was one of the only mayors to take measures to prevent the spreading of the new coronavirus by restricting access to schools, sports facilities and public places for persons returning from areas at risk[79] and only a few schools, such as the International School Ghent, quarantined pupils that returned from areas at risk, such as Northern Italy.[80]

On 10 March, the government advised to cancel any indoor scheduled events to be attended by more than 1000 people for the month of March. Prime minister Wilmès stressed this was not an interdiction but rather a recommendation.[81] Schools remain open but are advised to cancel trips abroad and multi-day excursions in general. Companies are advised to have their personnel work from home as much as possible and allow flexible working times to allow a better spread of public transport use throughout the day. The authorities called this reinforced phase 2.[82]

Late in the evening on 12 March, after a meeting of the National Security Council, the Belgian government moved into the federal phase of crisis management, and ordered the closure of schools, discos, cafes and restaurants, and the cancellation of all public gatherings for sporting, cultural or festive purposes from Friday 13 March at midnight onwards.[83] It was stressed that the measures taken were not a lockdown because people are not required to stay home.[84]


Concrete blocks in Mouscron, used to avoid all non-essential travel between France and Belgium (27 March 2020)
On 17 March, the National Security Council decided to take additional measures, based on the evolution of the spread of COVID-19 in Belgium and on recommendations of experts. Stricter social distancing measures were imposed from noon the following day until 5 April, with non-essential travel prohibited, non-essential shops to close, gatherings banned, and penalties to force companies and individuals to abide by the rules.[85][specify]

On 20 March, from 3 p.m. onwards Belgium closed its borders to all non-essential travel.[86] Earlier, the governor of West Flanders had complained about Dutch and French citizens coming to Belgium for tourism or shopping,[87] while mayors of municipalities close to the border with the Netherlands such as Paul Van Miert of Turnhout urged their Dutch counterparts to request their national authorities in the Netherlands to implement similar measures as in Belgium, in order to stop Belgian citizens going to Dutch cafés or restaurants.[88] From 25 March onwards, people arriving at Brussels Airport were handed over a leaflet with the compelling advice to quarantine themselves for a fortnight.[89]

On 27 March, the National Security Council and the governments decided to extend the measures until 19 April (end of the Easter vacation).[90] On 15 April, the containment measures were extended until the 3 May.[91]