The first case in HK only showed up on fourth PCR test on a fully vaccinated individual in mandatory quarantine.
So yeah, this shit will never end until countries that aren't dependent on tourism actually start to care about it.
Considering Belgium specifically https://www.info-coronavirus.be/en/travels/:
Check which COVID certificate you have at www.covidsafe.be. In principle, you have applied for this before you left. There are three types of certificates:
A vaccination certificate proves that you have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. You are fully vaccinated 2 weeks after your last vaccination dose and if the vaccine is EMA-certified or Covishield. From 1 September, vaccination certificates from non-EU countries will also be accepted in Belgium under certain conditions, pending their equivalence agreement with the EU.
A recovery certificate shows that you have recovered from COVID-19. You have a positive PCR test result no older than 180 days and you no longer need to isolate.
A test certificate is proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result that is less than 72 hours old or RAT test result that is taken the day before or the day of arrival.
I know.
I was also surprised (ENRAGED) to realize that our sanitary pass allow(ed) vaccinated people to attend mass events or restaurants or places where that pass is mandatory even if they have covid symptoms or are under quarantine.
Apparently US citizens undergo a mandatory tests at arrival and must be fully vaccinated. From: https://unitedstates.diplomatie.belgium.be/en/coronavirus-co...
As of November 8, 2021, all fully vaccinated persons are able to travel from Belgium to the U.S. The details on the proof of vaccination and the pre-departure COVID-test are explained on the website of the U.S. Department of State.
U.S. residents are eligible to travel from the U.S. to Belgium, if they are fully vaccinated and have a valid vaccination certificate. We recommend you take all available proof of vaccination with you when traveling, both the CDC card and – when available – State-issued certificates. Please note that airlines decide under which conditions they carry passengers. We recommend you enquire about those conditions before booking your flight.
Upon arrival in Belgium, travelers undergo a mandatory test on day 1 and on day 7. Depending on your vaccination status, you should stay in quarantine for 2 or 10 days. Unvaccinated travelers can only travel in very exceptional circumstances, listed here.
Only recently did the headlines went from "there a no scientific evidences for a third dose" to "WE NEED EVERYONE TO GET A THIRD DOSE ASAP".
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03495-2
> Vaccines reduce the risk of long COVID by lowering the chances of contracting COVID-19 in the first place. But for those who do experience a breakthrough infection, studies suggest that vaccination might only halve the risk of long COVID - or have no effect on it at all ... Long COVID can arise even after a mild or asymptomatic coronavirus infection
> For some individuals, long-COVID symptoms are mild; for others, they are life-changing. Nearly one-third of the people with long COVID at [Physiotherapist David] Putrino [of Mount Sinai Hospital’s Abilities Research Center in New York City]’s clinic have severe cognitive difficulties that can affect their ability to concentrate, speak and remember, and which were not present before their illness. About 60% of Putrino’s patients have had to change jobs or stop working as a result of their illness. “If you’re young and healthy, death from COVID may be highly unlikely,” Putrino says. “But severe debilitation is not.”
> Several studies are presented in this divulgative article. As was common for the topic of the not well defined long covid, numbers may vary strongly.
> --
> People divide in those who want to avoid death, and those who want to avoid damage. This article is very important in showing that those who intend to defend and preserve a maximized quality of life should take strong precautions to avoid infection, regardless of the vaccination status with the current products.
If I want to get on with my life there's a strong incentive to be extra prudent until we figure out something to deal with with or prevent long term non lethal but debilitating damages.
Unfortunately the bureaucratic apparatus has chosen to overplay the vaccines hand and build up a convenient scapegoat for when the vaccines prove to be less effective than originally claimed. The correct and ethical course of action is for everyone to undergo the same level of social protection measures.
How is Belgium/Europe letting unvaccinated people in? I had to be double vaxxed and negative RT PCR within 6 hours of travel to go to Canada or back to India. Being double vaxxed is an entry requirement for almost all the countries right now.