Covid-19: Five years on, how the pandemic evolved in Belgium
Monday marks five years since Belgium recorded its first death from Covid-19. For the next two years, the country and the world would be in the grip of the pandemic.
A 90-year-old woman died in Etterbeek on 10 March 2020 after contracting the virus, followed by two more people the next day. At that point, more than 300 infections had already been diagnosed in the country.
In an attempt to contain the virus, the National Security Council – key federal ministers and representatives of the security services – met for the first time.
The health protection measures they decided on were minimal compared to what was to come: people were asked to keep their distance from one another and it was recommended that mass events be prohibited, but schools, businesses, shops and restaurants remained open.
Borders closed
Two days later, the Security Council met again. This time, catering establishments were closed, schools were suspended and events were cancelled. The first lockdown was implemented five days later: borders were largely closed and only essential travel was permitted.
From April, a gradual relaxation of the initial measures began. From June, they were eased further and “contact bubbles” were expanded. But the tide turned in the summer. Infection rates rose sharply, especially in Antwerp, and contacts were restricted again.
The second lockdown came at the end of October: cultural centres, swimming pools, gyms, hairdressers and non-essential shops were all closed. Working from home became compulsory for all those who could. This time, however, schools remained largely open.
The lockdown lasted until the spring of 2021, with Christmas and New Year events and gatherings cancelled.
From March 2022, further relaxation of restrictions began and on 20 May 2022, more than two years after the crisis began, the Consultation Committee met for the last time.
While a vaccine rollout started in January 2021, it was months before the vaccination rate was high enough to allow most of the security measures to be lifted. A Covid Safe Ticket was introduced for events and the booster campaign was stepped up in the autumn.
More than 30,000 people in Belgium died after contracting coronavirus. At the height of the pandemic, in the spring of 2020, more than 280 people each day were dying. A study in medical journal The Lancet showed that the pandemic could be linked to more than 18 million deaths around the world between the end of 2020 and the end of 2021.
The intensive care Covid-19 unit at the Clinic Saint-Jean in Brussels, April 2020 © PHOTO BELGIAN FREELANCE
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