Belgium advises against travel to three Dutch provinces as Covid-19 flares up

The Netherlands and Belgium share an intricate border at Baarle-Nassau. Photo: Robin Utrecht ANP
The Netherlands and Belgium share an intricate border at Baarle-Nassau. Photo: Robin Utrecht ANP

Belgium has issued code orange travel warnings for the Dutch provinces of Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland and Zeeland because of the rise in coronavirus cases.

The code orange travel warning means Belgians who have visited the provinces should have a test and go into two weeks quarantine at home on their return.

Last week, the Netherlands issued a code orange warning for the Belgian province of Antwerp, recommending against all but essential travel.

The increase in travel warnings has complicated the situation at the border between the two countries, particularly in Baarle Nassau, which straddles the border and whose residents are now subject to different rules, depending on where they are.

Belgium, for example, requires face masks to be worn in shops, unlike the Netherlands.

Belgium, where the number of positive coronavirus tests is rising by around 500 a day, has also issued a code red warning for parts of France, Spain, Britain, Bulgaria and Switzerland.

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