When to put up the Christmas tree?

Face Mask Requirement

The general mask mandate is being extended. The obligation now applies to everyone from 10 years old and no longer from the age of 12 years. 

Co2-meter

Efforts are being made to install CO2-meters in indoor spaces where many people gather. According to the Consultation Committee, the meters must be installed quickly and universally in all classrooms of schools and companies where many people come together. 

Covid-Safe ticket

The Covid Safe Ticket with the mask will now be used for all events - public and private - from 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors. Also at outdoor events, a face mask must be worn. At private parties such as a wedding party, self-testing should not be used. A face mask must be worn there, except when you are seated.

These rules also remain important.

• We must 'maximally limit' our social contacts .

• It is important to keep distance .

• Meeting outdoors is better than indoors.

• Indoor spaces must be ventilated as well as possible.

• In addition, good hand hygiene remains important. 

Vaccines and Tests

- The general population will receive a third jab against in the spring of 2022, in March or April. The exact timing for the booster shots depends on the regions, which must manage it properly. An additional vaccination dose was already planned for certain target groups, including 65-plussers, people with reduced immunity, or those vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson. Now the rest of the population will also be eligible for an extra jab.

- For the 5 to 11-year-olds, vaccination will be started as soon as possible, if a favourable opinion is given by the High Health Council and the Bioethics Committee, and after approval by the European Medicines Agency. The jab for 5 to 11-year-olds is, just like the third jab for everyone, on a voluntary basis.

- A broad vaccination requirement will not be introduced for now, although the corona commissioner has been asked to investigate various options to increase the vaccination rate.

- The vaccination requirement for healthcare personnel will indeed be implemented. Healthcare providers who have not been vaccinated by 1 April will be dismissed, was already decided on Monday by the federal core cabinet. 

It is mandatory until 12 December to work from home four days per week. Everyone with a role that can be performed from home may therefore still go to the office one day per week during this period. Companies will have to record in a register how many and which people are necessarily present on site and when. From 13 December, the teleworking obligation will be reduced to three days per week.

Hospitality

The mask mandate is once again in effect in the hospitality sector (also during private gatherings), in addition to the COVID Safe Ticket: when you enter a café or restaurant and when you move around inside, it is again mandatory to wear a face mask. The mask may be removed when seated. 

School

In secondary education, the face mask is again mandatory when moving around and when distance cannot be maintained and the room is insufficiently ventilated. The mask may be removed when you are seated and there is sufficient distance and ventilation. 

Discotheques and nightclubs

Discotheques and nightclubs will have the choice: either they combine the Covid Safe Ticket with a self-test at the door, or with the face mask. In other words: if a self-test is not used as an extra line of defence, the face mask must be worn when moving around. Also while dancing. If a self-test is used, dancing without a mask is allowed. For dance cafés, the same rules apply as for the rest of the hospitality sector: the face mask must be worn unless you are seated.

Sport

The CST and mask combination also applies in cultural institutions such as concert halls, theatres and playhouses, museums and (indoor) amusement and theme parks. Wearing a face mask is also mandatory in fitness centres. The mask may be removed during exercise.