19 March 2021: We’re fighting an uphill battle against the virus…

19 March 2021: The numbers of new cases of Covid-19 and hospital admissions are rising sharply. In the week to 15 March 3265 people tested positive, this is an increase of 34% on the week. In the week to 17 March on average 175 patients with Covid were hospitalised each day.  The figure is up 16% on the week.  Hospitalisations are up for the fifth day in a row. Yesterday the increase was 12%. All experts are worried that a third wave of the pandemic has started. Belgium’s Consultative Committee will meet tomorrow to discuss possible changes to the rules based on the increasing coronavirus. The ongoing vaccination campaign is a race against a changing and mutating virus. Therefore, the good news is that the EMA said yesterday that the AstraZeneca vaccine was safe. Let’s hope that this statement will alleviate concerns about possible side effects and prompt all European countries to resume using it against the resurgent virus. Clearly, we’re fighting an uphill battle against the virus. Today I’m posting another picture from the Aiguille du Midi - French Alps, Chamonix, France.