Change in the travel advice for Belgium

On the basis of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s assessment of the COVID-19 situation in Belgium, the Government has decided to advise against non-essential travel to the country. Belgium is being changed from ‘green’ to ‘red’ on the map showing the status for quarantine on entry to Norway from abroad. From 1 August, anyone arriving in Norway from Belgium will be required to go into quarantine for 10 days. This change will apply from midnight on Friday 31 July. See the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health for more information.

‘A number of countries in Europe are unfortunately seeing an increasing number of COVID-19 cases. Because of this, we need to review the travel advice regularly, both to ensure the safety of Norwegians travelling abroad and to limit the import of infection to Norway. Even though it is now possible to travel to certain countries without having to quarantine on return to Norway, this should not be taken as encouragement to travel. Anyone thinking about travelling abroad should consider all the potential ramifications beforehand and should make sure that they know what the situation is in the place they are planning to visit. The infection situation and local restrictions can change very quickly,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Søreide.

‘People who have returned to Norway from a country that becomes ‘red’ shortly after their return must monitor their health for symptoms of COVID-19. It is very important that they get themselves tested if they experience any symptoms, and that they make sure that they maintain a distance of at least one metre from other people,’ said Minister of Health and Care Services Bent Høie. 

The Institute of Public Health will update the list of countries and regions that satisfy the criteria set for infection levels at least once every two weeks. Updates may be made more frequently, and countries/regions changed from ‘green’ to ‘red’, if the infection situation in a country, or in a region of a Nordic country, deteriorates.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is maintaining its global advice against non-essential travel to all countries apart from those for which exceptions have been made. This travel advice currently applies until 20 August. For information about the countries in the Schengen area/EEA and the regions in the Nordic countries that are excepted from the travel advice, see the map on the Norwegian Institute of Public Health website and The Ministry’s travel information.