Belgium Tests Thousands of Travelers from High-Risk Countries at Major Airports

In total, 4,868 passengers from these five countries arrived in Belgium on Sunday via Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA). 804 of them were tested. A total of 750 tests can be carried out there per day.

In a press release, the airport specifies that more than 4,600 of the 15,000 passengers arriving at Brussels Airport during the first weekend of 2021 were tested. At Charleroi, on the single day of Sunday, 804 travelers underwent the Covid test in the new screening center, said Laurent Blanchart, the marketing director, on Monday. Nearly 2,000 travelers were tested at the Brussels-Midi station over the same period, it is added.

Brussels Airport opened three new testing sites, including a "drive-in", last Sunday. With the latter, passengers can be tested while remaining in their vehicle. All these test sites are open every day, from 3:30 a.m. to midnight.

Passengers who have stayed in a red zone for more than 48 hours are required to observe a quarantine period. To ensure compliance with this measure, the existing testing capacity has been expanded and a new center has been opened at the Brussels-Midi station. On the weekend of January 2 and 3, 1,977 tests were carried out at this new testing site, said the Red Cross spokesperson in charge of the center.