24 March 2021: A Corona Proof Visit to Track & Trace…

24 March 2021: Currently the infection figures are doubling every 14 days. In the week to 19 March 4158 people tested positive. The figure is up 39% on the week. The number of hospitalisations too is giving cause for concern. The total hospital occupancy rate is 2,359. One in four, 588 patients are in intensive care. Also, patients coming into ICU are younger and they are also becoming sicker than in previous months. In light of all of the above the cry for decisive actions to stem the surge in new coronavirus cases from subject experts and healthcare professionals becomes louder and louder. As a consequence, the prime minister brought the meeting of the consultative committee forward. The government is now meeting later this morning to discuss, and hopefully agree, on new measures. I believe that the quicker and more severe the measures are, the less time that they will need to be in force. This could enable the planned relaxation of the coronavirus measures announced earlier this month to go head which would mean that our efforts during a relatively short period would be rewarded all the more. Despite deteriorating numbers, we allowed ourselves a corona proof visit to Track & Trace, a photo festival in Kortrijk last Saturday. The municipal swimming pool with its typical architecture, changing rooms and long stretches of brick wall form a cinematic backdrop for the photo festival.– Kortrijk, Belgium