20 March 2021: Will the government’s plan put up an effective barrier against the upsurge in infections?

20 March 2021: The corona figures show sharp rises in the number of people testing positive for the virus and in the number of people with COVID-19 that are being hospitalised. In the week to 16 March 3438 people tested positive, this is an increase of 36% on the week.  On 18 March Belgian hospitals reported that 207 people with COVID-19 had been hospitalised. There are currently 2,140 patients with COVID-19 that are being cared for in hospitals. What is deeply worrying is that patients that are being hospitalised end up in intensive care more quickly than during the first and second wave of the pandemic. In light of these deteriorating numbers all subject experts are voicing the need to act now to stem the upsurge in infections. In yesterday’s address to the country the prime minister, however, announced only minimal changes to the current rules. The government decided to put several planned relaxations on hold for the time being and tasked the different Ministers of Education to come up with a detailed and decisive plan to reduce the number of infections in schools as soon as possible. I’m wondering if this will put up a barrier against the upsurge in infections and avoid a third wave. On display today is the Émosson Dam in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. Most likely a much more effective barrier than the half-baked rules of the government - Lac d'Émosson, Valais, Switzerland