The government of Belgium introduced to the public today its new coronavirus restrictions. Among other measures, the authorities plan to impose fines for the people caught coughing or sneezing in public places.
To fight the coronavirus and other infectious diseases, the authorities plan to impose fines for coughing or sneezing in public places. The corresponding bill was submitted to Belgian Parliament earlier this week.
According to the new bill, fines for coughing or sneezing in a public place will be applied as additional measures in fight against corona virus pandemic.
According to the initial version of the bill, coughing or sneezing in public places will be banned as additional measures for fighting the coronavirus. As per planned bill, a fine of 300 euros will be charged from a person caught coughing or sneezing in a public place for the first time and up to 3000 euros for repeated violation of the ban.
Moreover, the initial version of the bill stipulates, that ff a person is caught coughing or sneezing in a public place three or more times a month, he or she may be sentenced to up to 10 days in prison.
As per to the explanation of the Ministry of Justice, the planned new fines are applied, because people do not listen to the friendly requests by the Belgian government.
“Although the government has repeatedly asked people not to cough or sneeze in public places, unfortunately such a kind-hearted attitude has not yielded the desired results,” the explanatory memorandum to the bill states.
“People simply do not want to follow the recommendations and kind request made in a friendly manner by the government. Therefore, the state has no other means left to protect the health of its citizens than to impose specific and severe penalties,” the explanatory memorandum to the bill states.
Provided that the bill will be approved by the Belgian Parliament, the new fines will enter into force on January 1st, 2022.
* Photo: AFP/Kenzo Tribouillard