26 May 2020 Update from A Semi-Locked Down Ghent

The positive trend continues: 250 new infections, 27 hospital admissions and 32 new deaths have been reported.  We are in the tail end of the epidemic! However, our subject experts keep stressing that the risks have not disappeared and we are urged to keep respecting the basic principles: (1) stay at home as much as possible, and definitely when you are sick, (2) wash your hands regularly, (3) wear a face mask in crowded places, and definitely on public transport, (4) avoid unnecessary contact with others, (5) remain within your bubble, and (6) keep the 1.5 metres social distance. In addition, Van Gucht, Belgium’s lead virologist, said that as long as we do not have an effective treatment or a vaccine, we should not rule out a second outbreak of Covid-19 in autumn or winter and that the only means we have to fight the evolution of the pandemic are screening and tracing. If that system of contact tracing and isolating sick people is no longer manageable because there are too many cases, we have no other solution than to break the chains of transmission by ensuring social distancing again. Is this a heads up for a second lockdown? I guess the outlook is not all rosy and it could very well be that I will continue picturing and documenting window drawings for a while – Meulestedesteenweg, Ghent, Belgium