1 June 2020 Update from A Semi-Locked Down Ghent

Yesterday’s figures show a continuation of the positive trend: a further 195 people tested positive for the novel coronavirus, 40 people suffering from COVID-19 were admitted to Belgian hospitals and “only” 14 fatalities were reported. Whilst we’re slowly moving out of the Corona lockdown Belgium is on track to wrap up its warmest spring season in recorded history and the month of May is set to become the driest one in 200 years. The increasingly warming temperatures spell trouble for Belgium. We’re living in a country that is more accustomed to common spells of rain than prolonged periods of warm and dry weather and climate disruptions will confront us with drought, floods, heatwaves and loss of biodiversity. Amid the Covid-19 and weather challenges people become also more concerned with the social unrest in the US, once my favorite country. In the aftermath of the incident in Minneapolis the widespread anger and outrage in the US where black people for years have been unproportionally targeted by the police and have suffered more than other Americans during the coronavirus crisis because of their deprived socio-economic conditions is understandable. However, we’ve seen time and time again that violence is never the answer or solution. Clearly, the US is in desperate need for a leader that unites, inspires and heals the country… Today’s picture is not a postcard greeting nor is it a vignette of a street-scene it’s just a composition that I like. An urban alignment that brings some order to the chaos – Kantienberg, Ghent, Belgium.