Give your grandchildren a hug, Belgians told

Restrictions eased for families in ‘corona bubbles’ as doctors direct protest at PM over pay and shortages

BELGIUM gave the green light yesterday for those who are aged under 65 and free from any underlying health conditions to look after their grandchildren once again.

The move came as households were allowed to invite up to four guests to their home from yesterday. The guests must always be the same, and must live under the same roof. Two sets of four people constitute a “corona bubble”, who can visit each other’s homes. No one else is allowed into the domestic circle.

To be eligible for childcare, grandparents must be part of the same “corona bubble” as their grandchildren.

Grandparents are not being told to maintain social distancing while caring for grandchildren because it would be impractical. Other social bubble guests are expected to remain 1.5 metres apart, and everyone is instructed to observe other barrier measures such as washing hands regularly.

The government suggests that they meet in gardens or on terraces where possible. The authorities say they cannot police the new rules, so are relying on people’s sense of civic duty. Sophie Wilmès, the prime minister (pictured), announced the social bubbles policy last week following accusations that the government had prioritised the economy over people’s desire to be reunited with family and friends.

“The physical separation from those whom we love has in some cases become unbearable,” she said.

However, on Saturday, Ms Wilmès’ visit to Saint Peter hospital in Brussels was overshadowed by a protest from medics waiting outside the building.

In what was dubbed a “guard of dishonour”, dozens of medical staff turned their backs as Ms Wilmès’ car drove past.

Medical staff have expressed their frustration at low pay, and personnel and equipment shortages, as well as government plans to recruit unqualified staff to support nurses. It was Ms Wilmès’ first official visit to a hospital since the start of the outbreak.

Wouter Beke, the Flemish regional health and welfare minister, who announced the new policy on grandparents, said: “This is good news for many families and will give them additional support.”

However, many Belgians have been confused about the social bubble policy, and some say it is impossible to observe.

“This has been explained to the public in a way that was unclear,” said Marguerite, a 32-year-old marketing executive in Brussels who declined to give her surname.

“I understand what the government is trying to do, but families face difficult choices. In my case, for example, should it be my parents or my husband’s who join our bubble? Both sets of grandparents want to look after our daughters, but we now have to choose one at the risk of offending the other.”

Epidemiologists advised the government to set the number of guests at four so contact tracing will be relatively straightforward if one is infected. It avoids the additional risk of freer mixing, scientists say.

“I think a lot of people are going to break these rules, knowing they won’t really be enforced,” Marguerite said.

In Spain and France, people are allowed to socialise in groups of up to 10. The number of daily Covid-19 deaths in Spain fell to 87 yesterday, the first time the official daily toll dipped below 100 in two months.