This Tuesday evening, the mayor of Liège Willy Demeyer wanted to make an important communication relating to the coronavirus epidemic in the Ardent City. He announced that “an abnormally high proportion of patients of sub-Saharan African origin” are currently hospitalized at the Citadel Hospital in Liège. And announces therefore take preventive measures.
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” I was informed this weekend by the Citadel Hospital of Liège of an abnormally high proportion of patients of sub-Saharan African origin among those hospitalized for COVID “, Says the mayor of Liège Willy Demeyer.
And to continue: ” This is objective information from the medical profession. In accordance with regional guidelines, the hospital immediately notified the regional health inspectorate and myself of this outbreak.
Of course, taking into account medical confidentiality, no data allowing the identification of patients was obviously not communicated.
As soon as I am officially informed of a risk run by the population, it is my responsibility to take the necessary preventive measures. “
An email sent to different personalities
” I did not make a public message. In particular, I chose to write an email to the attention of a dozen well-known personalities from the many sub-Saharan communities in Liège. “
And it is obviously these e-mails sent which caused a lively controversy in Liège, some going to pin a certain “stigmatization” of the community concerned. Willy Demeyer therefore decided to communicate transparently and publicly, to make things clear.
“An urgent health-type approach”
” It is therefore an urgent health-type approach aimed at avoiding any new contact, outside of any political context “, Continues the mayor of Liège. ” Today, the only thing that matters is to protect people from the virus, to save lives. I have sent this type of message to many other groups of citizens of Liège.
If I have run into sensitivities, I apologize.
I note that the information has circulated and that discussions are focused on the necessary health precautions, as evidenced by the many positive reactions that I have received.
As soon as this fight is won, I am ready to start a substantive debate on all the questions that this raises. “
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