19 May 2020 Update from A Semi-Locked Down Ghent

Yesterday’s corona figures reached new lows. 28 deaths were recorded, down from 47 the previous day and 43 patients were hospitalised with COVID-19 compared to 60 the day before. Amid a continuing fall in coronavirus cases, Belgium hit the world press with images of healthcare professionals turning their back to prime minister Sophie Wilmès visiting Hospital Saint-Pierre in Brussels. The silent protest was staged to call for increased acknowledgement of their efforts and against a decree to recruit unqualified staff to carry out nursing activities. In general there is a growing dissatisfaction among healthcare workers over the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis exacerbated by serious underfunding of the social security system. All of this proof one thing: it’s time that politicians put their differences aside to join forces to get the country back on track. Noodling on all of this I continue to wander through the city hoping pictures will find me – Walpoortstraat, Ghent, Belgium