21 February 2021: An early taste of spring

21 February 2021: The latest figures on the coronavirus pandemic in Belgium show that the fall in the number of people testing positive for the virus stopped. The number of hospitalisations continues to fall. However, the fall is only slight. In the week to 17 February on average 1942 people tested positive each day in Belgium. The figure is flat on the week. In the same period 119 patients with Covid were hospitalised and 37 fatalities a day were linked to Covid. The figures are down respectively 5% and 9% on the week. Despite the rather disappointing figures Saturday’s early taste of spring has meant that thousands of people have headed for the coast for a breath of sea air and a stroll along the prom. In normal times the local authorities and traders in our coastal resorts would be delighted with the influx of day-trippers. However, these are not normal times and too many people in one place can pose risks to public health as we have been made all too aware since the coronavirus pandemic took hold in Belgium almost a year ago. On display today is somebody who decided not to head for the coast but to enjoy the beautiful weather downtown Ghent - The small beguinage O.L.V. Ter Hooyen, Ghent, Belgium.