12 May 2020 Update from A Locked Down Ghent

62 deaths from COVID-19 have been reported at yesterday’s press conference. This brings the total death toll in Belgium to 8,707. The good news is that the number of hospital admissions has stabilised. We’re staying well under 100 per day! Unfortunately, the fall in the number of confirmed new infections has stopped. Let’s hope that this is related to the fact that we’re testing more widely.  Whilst Popeye is still in the midst of his fight against COVID-19, shops selling “non-essential” goods opened their doors again, for the first time in almost 8 weeks. When I read that there were long queues ahead of opening time at certain discount retailers, I feared the worst. If we don’t behave responsible there is no shed of a doubt that it’s only a matter of weeks before the virus will flare up again - Sassekaai, Ghent, Belgium