Is it safe to travel again?
“A virus is causing turbulence all over the world. Later on, when the storm is over, will everything still be as it was?”
Traveling with Brussels Airlines
A mobile test centre is available at Brussels Airport to carry out COVID-19 PCR tests.
Given the increasing need for testing in Belgium, Ecolog International, the operator of the Test Centre, receives many requests for testing. This results in longer waiting times for handling the tests and communicating the results. We advise our passengers to consider an extra 12 to 24 hours if they need to be tested. Furthermore, it is important to register online in advance on https://brusselsairport.ecocare.center/.
Do you have any questions about the tests? You can reach Ecolog on +32 78-48.58.26.
Who can get tested?
Passengers travelling to a country for which a negative test certificate is required.
Passengers with an activation code of the Belgian Government after a contact tracing procedure. They are obliged to get tested and can do so at the Test Centre at Brussels Airport.
All persons with a prescription from a doctor.
You can only get tested if you do not show any COVID-19 symptoms.
How does it work?
A PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test is performed by taking a sample from the nose with a cotton swab. You may not eat, drink, smoke or brush your teeth 15 minutes prior to the test. The minimum age for the test is 5 years.
The tests will be analysed in the mobile lab on site, which makes the results available within 24 hours. The results will be sent to you by e-mail so you don't have to wait at the Test Centre.
With this on-site laboratory, it is also possible to opt for a PCR rapid test with the result available within 4 to maximum 6 hours*. This is particularly useful for departing passengers who need a negative test certificate for a specific destination.
Ecolog, the lab operator, has an ISO 15189 accredited lab, which makes the results internationally valid.
Practical
Location: At departure level outside the airport building
Opening hours: From 3:30AM until midnight.
Registration: Register in advance on the lab operator Ecolog's website or on site. Take in account that for on-site registration there might be a queue.
Price: €67 (standard test) / €135 (rapid test) / €46.81 (for red zone/activation code - paid by NIHDI)
This is what makes the healthcare system of Belgium unique:
To benefit from the healthcare system in Belgium, you have to join a health insurance fund (mutuelle/ziekenfonds). The majority of these funds are linked to the country’s political parties but they are accessible to everyone. You can choose from 20 Christian, 13 socialist, 10 liberal, seven independent and seven neutral funds from all over Belgium.
Contributions are withheld from your income if you are a salaried worker; the self-employed need to register with the social security fund of their choice. All funds charge the same amount, as they act as intermediaries between the National Institute for sickness and Invalidity Insurance and its members. This state system provides basic
healthcare reimbursements for hospital, doctor and chemist costs – for example, 50-75% of the cost of a consultation with a doctor or specialist. While hospital and pharmacy expenses are deducted when you pay, doctors’ fees usually need to be paid in full and then the invoice sent to the insurance fund for reimbursement.
When you register, there is a six-month waiting period before you can be reimbursed for any medical costs, though people who are entitled to benefits in another EU country are covered during this period. Once insured you receive a SIS (social identity) card, but these will gradually be replaced by an electronic identity card from next year.
You can opt for an additional insurance. This covers repayments for non-urgent care in hospital, the costs of glasses, dental care, vaccinations and registration at a sports club. Alternative or complementary treatments such as homoeopathy, acupuncture, osteopathy and chiropractic are also recognised as reimbursable by the Belgian Ministry of Health, if the practitioner is a qualified doctor. The content and cost of this insurance varies for each fund.
Data mining to power the health system
Belgium has an enormous wealth of digital data. The possibilities and ideas exist to become a new “mining” country. Obviously, it is not likely nor desirable that all existing real-world evidence data collected in health organisations are used for such smart systems. In health minister Maggie De Block opinion, it is necessary to explain to citizens what the added value of data for our society is and how it is a form of responsible citizenship. However, we should never collect data without their informed consent to use real-world evidence data for scientific research or optimal screening programs.
Going to Switzerland
The Federal Office of Public Health (OFSP) has updated the list of countries severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic and for which it is mandatory to quarantine on return to Switzerland (effective from 23 November 2020) if we spent more than 24 hours on their soil.
The OFSP refrains from making travel recommendations or warnings for particular states. However, please observe the following guidelines:
Continue to follow the rules of hygiene and conduct abroad. This is the best way to protect yourself and others from infection with the novel coronavirus.
If your destination is on the list of states and territories at high risk of infection, you will need to quarantine yourself upon your return. Please note that there is no absolute planning security. To find out if you are subject to the quarantine obligation, you must refer to the list in force on the date of your return to Switzerland, and not on your departure date.
Do not travel if you are feeling sick or have certain symptoms suggestive of a novel coronavirus infection. Stay home and take the coronavirus self-assessment or call your doctor.
Before traveling, always check with your destination country's embassy or consulate directly about restrictions related to the novel coronavirus, as they differ from country to country and are likely to change quickly.
Entry and return to Switzerland
If you wish to enter or return to Switzerland, you must ask yourself two questions:
Am I allowed to enter Switzerland? Persons holding a Swiss passport, a valid residence permit or enjoying the right to free movement can return to Switzerland from any country. All other people may be subject to restrictions. You can find information on this on the website of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). If you have any questions, please contact SEM directly.
If you are allowed in, then ask yourself: should I quarantine myself when I arrive in Switzerland? The OFSP defines a list of states and territories at high risk of infection. People from these states or territories must self-quarantine. You can find all the information you need on the page Mandatory quarantine for travelers entering Switzerland.
For any questions on this subject, call the OFSP infoline for travelers to Switzerland: +41 58 464 44 88 (daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.).
The contact details of travelers are partially available when entering the territory. The collection covers all commercial flights as well as all bus journeys from countries at high risk of infection. There are two reasons for this process: on the one hand, the contact details ensure that contacts can be traced if some passengers on board were infected and there was a risk of infection. On the other hand, they are used by the cantonal authorities to verify by sampling compliance with mandatory quarantines.
Going to Italy: COVID-19 - Preventative measures and restrictions
A nationwide curfew is in effect from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. You must wear a face covering on public transportation, in closed public spaces and in outdoor public spaces.
You must be in possession of a self-declaration form to justify any essential travel during curfews or in areas subject to movement restrictions.
If you violate these measures, you could be fined for endangering public health.
Follow the instructions of local authorities, including those related to physical distancing
Avoid gatherings in public spaces
Useful links:
Novel coronavirus– Italian Ministry of Health (in Italian only)
Map of COVID-19 risk level by region - Italian Ministry of Health (in Italian only)
Self-declaration form - Italian Ministry of Interior (in Italian only)
FAQ #ImStayingHome Decree - Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Entry to the European Union countries
On October 21, 2020, the Council of the European Union recommended to the Member States to reimpose entry restrictions on passengers arriving from Canada. As this is only a recommendation, Member States make their own individual determination of who they allow to enter and under what conditions.
Should you decide to travel to the European Union despite these new restrictions and despite our global advisory, know that local authorities may deny you entry or impose additional entry requirements. Your travel plans could be severely disrupted. You should not depend on the Government of Canada for assistance related to changes to your travel plans.
Special entry requirements could include:
entry bans, particularly for non-residents
quarantines of 14 days or more upon arrival, some in designated facilities, at your own cost
health screenings and certificates as well as proof of adequate travel health insurance
travel authorization documents to be obtained before you travel
Consider even your transit points, as many destinations have implemented strict transit rules which could disrupt your travel. Check with the diplomatic mission of the countries you plan on visiting and transiting through to know who they allow to enter and under what conditions.
Airlines can also suspend or reduce flights without notice, making it difficult for you to return home.
Contact your airline or tour operator to confirm your travel plans
Contact the nearest foreign diplomatic office for information on destination-specific restrictions
