As more confirmed cases of the coronavirus materialize around Europe, Belgium is instituting new measures to keep closer tabs on its citizens traveling abroad. FPS Foreign Affairs is now asking Belgians traveling abroad to register online, with the aim of making it easier for the government to contact them in the event of any health-related issues. The new policy follows the quarantining of 110 Belgian travelers — among hundreds of others –at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife.
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Belgium Is Asking Its Citizens to Register Online Before Traveling Due to Coronavirus Fears
According to FPS spokesperson Karl Lagati, “We are in close contact with tour operator TUI and the local embassy. Anyone who still has to leave to go to a foreign country, we ask to register. It will only take a few seconds and we will have their contact details, making it easier to contact them if there are any problems. Few people have that reflex when they go to neighboring countries, but this shows that it can be useful.”
To properly register, travelers are being asked to go to travelersonline.diplomatie.be before leaving for their trip. There are no plans to close the country’s borders right now, though Belgians traveling in Italy are being asked to abide by the warnings of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and exercise caution. 