30 May 2020 Update from A Semi-Locked Down Ghent

For the first time since 20 March there are fewer than 1,000 patients with COVID-19 being cared for in Belgian hospitals. 42 deaths from COVID-19 have been reported yesterday. This brings the total number of fatalities to 9,430. Yesterday’s report also announced 212 new infections. Clearly, the bell curve is not symmetrical, and we have a "long tail" on the way down. We also learned that hardly 5% of the population has developed antibodies against the corona virus. Herd immunity is a long way off and the likely hood of a second wave of infections is therefore very real.  Whilst we are still fighting the attack of the corona virus another challenge presents itself. The last few weeks have been exceptionally dry. In fact April and May 2020 have been the driest months of April and May since 1833.  There are growing fears of wildfires and we are faced with extreme water scarcity. Amid all of this there is also some good news. Earlier this week the government gave the green light to reopen public playgrounds – Citadelpark, Ghent, Belgium.