28 March 2021: Ghent is treating its citizens with additional chalk circles…

28 March 2021: The coronavirus figures continue to rise albeit at a slower pace. On average in the week to 24 March, 4,635 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed each day. The figure is up 26% on the week. There are currently 2,499 patients with COVID-19 in our hospitals and 664 patients are on intensive care wards. By Thursday 25 March 1,152,481 people in Belgium had been given their first dose of coronavirus vaccine. This is 12.5% of the adult population. Almost 480,000 people have already received a second dose of coronavirus vaccine. Whilst vaccine scarcity remains a big issue in Europe the US government is debating how to handle looming surpluses as the supply of vaccines is anticipated to outstrip US demand by mid-May if not sooner. Whether they decide to keep or redirect those doses is a question with significant implications for how soon the pandemic can be brought to an end. Let’s hope that with the Biden administration the US is taken a more holistic view on the pandemic and the world in general. Meanwhile, in Ghent the city is treating us with additional chalk circles in the parks. The circles should allow us to enjoy the spring sunshine safely whilst sticking to the corona measures that restrict gatherings to only four people – Zuidpark, Ghent, Belgium.