Belgium introduces new measures to detect the development of new COVID variants

Belgium is taking two measures to detect new COVID variants following the flare-up in China. This was announced by Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Forward).

The first measure concerns wastewater from planes arriving from China at Zaventem airport. That water will be tested for the presence of the coronavirus and any worrying variants.

A second measure concerns doctors and pharmacists. They are instructed to send tests from people who were in China in the past week to a specialised laboratory.

Meanwhile, the health minister reiterated that the situation in China does not put us in great danger here and now.

^{Vice-prime minister and Public Health and Social Affairs minister Frank Vandenbroucke pictured during a press moment after a meeting of the Risk Management Group concerning visitors from China and the risk of COVID-19 spreading, Monday 02 January 2023 in Brussels.}

^{© BELGA PHOTO James Arthur Gekiere}