On Friday 24 April the National Security Council of Belgium held a much awaited press conference on deconfinement. A French word for the exit strategy out of coronavirus countermeasures.

While media focus on the restart of schools, the industry and retail, a slide showed something interesting. Multiday trips within the realm and outside will not be possible before 8 June. The reopening of the catering industry – hotels, restaurants, cafés, bars – will not happen before 8 June.

Prof. dr. Erika Vlieghe from University Hospital of Antwerp (UZA) and the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) chairs the Group of Experts for an Exit Strategy (GEES). She’s always cautious.

“No decision was made”, she said on VRT News. “We’ll have to look at the situation at home and abroad.”

She doesn’t want to be drawn into premature announcements.