28 April 2021: The Netherlands will today press on with the first stage of the lockdown easing…

28 April 2021: From 18 to 24 April, 3502 people tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in Belgium. The number is plateauing at the same level. Looking at the age demographic there is a sharp increase (+17%) in infections among school-age children but the largest portion of infections is among those in their 20s. The total number of hospital beds occupied stays at near-critical levels. There are currently 2,952COVID-19 patients being cared for in Belgian hospitals. Of these 892 are on ICU ward. The positivity rate stand at 9.2% and the reproduction rate fell slightly to 0.93. The situation in the Netherlands is very similar, maybe even a little worse, than what we’re experiencing in Belgium.  The seven-day average of people testing positive for the coronavirus stands at 7,900 and our northern neighbors saw nearly 400 new Covid-19 hospitalizations over the past day, a 4-month high. Despite these worrying statistics, the country will today press on with the first stage of the lockdown easing, including the reopening of terraces, the elimination of shopping-by-appointment at retailers, and the elimination of the curfew. Also, in the Netherlands subject experts are wondering if it is smart to ease the measure too early with the covid end in sight. Anyhow, yesterday, people in the Netherlands celebrated King’s Day, therefore, I’m dedicating today’s picture from the dune and bulb region to my Dutch friends – Vogelenzang, The Netherlands.