21 December 2020: The 3rd wave is here; all we can do is to keep it as small as possible

21 December 2020: Update on The Corona Pandemic – Within less than 24 hours of the UK announcementthat it has been impacted by a more-infectious and “out of control” coronavirus variant Belgium imposed a 24-hour travel bans on the UK. Also, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands are halting flights. All of these countries took the decision “as a precautionary measure” to prevent the spread of a more contagious strain of coronavirus. Later this morning the EU will decide a more coordinated response to this outbreak. The new strain appeared in mid-September in London or in the south-eastern county of Kent.The UK government has informed the WHO that it has been spreading faster than the original strain – up to 70% faster, according to Boris Johnson. In addition to spreading faster, the new strain was also becoming the “dominant” one, leading to a “very high increase” in hospitalisations in December. Also, in Belgium it stopped raining and started pouring, we are reporting more positive tests, more hospitalizations and more fatalities. Clearly, we are heading towards another expediential rise like the one we saw during the first and second wave. Whether we call it a third wave or not we will need to try to keep it as small as possible. The earlier we start curbing the spread of the virus and the better we are at it, the smaller the impact will be. Oh boy there we go again. At the risk of being perceived as heartless in face of so much misery I’m posting another picture of the Christmas decoration downtown Ghent. The shop on the right is our favorite chocolate shop. Sint-Baafsplein, Ghent, Belgium.