Coronavirus: the 'quarantine' certificate is official

From now on, doctors will use two types of medical certificates for consultations which involve physical contact or not: a certificate of incapacity for work and a quarantine certificate.

This is stated in a communication from the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance INAMI/RIZIV on its website.

Which certificate for which situation?

Depending on the situation, the doctor will issue the following certificate:

• a certificate of incapacity for work 'COVID-19 period' if the person is not fit to work;
• or a quarantine certificate 'COVID-19 period' if the person is fit to work but is not allowed to travel or to go to work.

What are the consequences for the employer and the employee?

Providing the employer with one of the two certificates will make it easier for him to determine the situation the employee is in and what the consequences are.

Certificate of incapacity for work

If the employee provides his employer with a certificate of incapacity for work, the ordinary rules on incapacity for work apply. After a possible period of guaranteed wage paid by the employer, the employee will receive benefits from the health insurance fund.

Quarantine certificate

If the employee provides his employer with a quarantine certificate, two cases may occur:

• teleworking is possible: in that case he will receive his normal wage paid by the employer;
• or teleworking is not possible: in that case, in principle, he will be able to receive a temporary unemployment benefit due to force majeure paid by the National Employment Office (ONEm/RVA).

Source: INAMI/RIZIV