On 1 October several governments in our country will relax a number of Covid measures. Thanks to the vaccinations, the respect for the rules and lower pressure in some parts of the country on the care sector, we regain freedoms. However, it is mainly in Flanders that a relaxation has been announced.
Our thanks to all of you who have respected the rules and shown solidarity regarding vaccination.
Flanders
Why are some measures being relaxed?
In recent months, many people have been vaccinated. This is reflected in the hospitalisation figures: the pressure on hospitals is currently manageable and stable in Flanders. Of course, this does not mean that the virus is completely gone: more than 97% of the people who are hospitalised have not been vaccinated.
Do I still need to wear a mouth mask?
The general obligation to wear a mask at work ceases to apply as of 1/10. When you are moving around in the office or on the construction site, a mouth mask is no longer compulsory. A mask is also no longer compulsory outside the workplace.
If you feel safer wearing a mask, it is of course perfectly OK to continue to do so.
Are there exceptions?
Sometimes it can still be advisable to wear a mask, especially in case of close contact (meetings, toolbox meetings, ...) in indoor spaces with moderate to no ventilation, or where there is no certainty about the vaccination level of the participants. In some countries, the vaccination level is even lower than in Flanders and Wallonia.
Do I still have to keep a distance of 1.5 metres?
For the time being, the rules about social distancing remain in force, but the requirement to wear a mouth mask has been dropped.
Where the distance of 1.5 metres cannot be guaranteed, wearing a mouth mask is still strongly recommended.
This means keeping the maximum capacity of meeting rooms as it is now.
It is also recommended to still wear a mask in small spaces such as lifts if you use them with several people at the same time.
What about the other measures?
Other measures such as ventilation and workplace hygiene remain unchanged. To be clear: when it comes to disinfecting, we are not talking about individual workplaces that are always used by the same person (such as a desk, for example), but about workplaces and objects that are used in common (tables in meeting rooms and refectories, door handles, etc.).
It goes without saying that good hand hygiene is also sensible. It also helps against other viruses such as the flu virus.
Brussels and Wallonia
Because the vaccination rate in Brussels and Wallonia is still too low, all current measures (mouth mask, social distancing, hygiene, ventilation, ...) remain in place until further notice at the Head Office and the sites in these regions.
What is the situation with regard to vaccination coverage at BESIX?
Since yesterday, we have an overview of our vaccination coverage. More than 90% of our colleagues have been fully vaccinated.
This is a very good result and we would like to thank everyone who has taken their responsibility.
Vaccination is not compulsory, but as a responsible employer we strongly recommend you to protect your colleagues and loved ones. You can still be infected if you are vaccinated, but you will become less ill and be less contagious to others.
Do you still have doubts or questions about vaccination? Then watch the webinar that we have organised together with Mensura. It’s available on eAcademy in Dutch and French.
If you still want a vaccine, BESIX will soon offer you that opportunity if you work in Brussels. More information will follow.
Foreign subcontractors can still be vaccinated in Belgium. More information can be found here.
Do you have any further questions?
Contact your HSE Advisor or send an e-mail to covid.helpdesk@besix.com. We are ready to help you!