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In Belgium, close to Covid-19 “tsunami wave” / Article / LSM.lv

“We are very close to the tsunami,” the Belgian health minister said of the rise in Covid-19, acknowledging that the country had lost control of the virus. These days, the number of patients is increasing by about 10 thousand every day, and the resuscitation wards have three times more Covid-19 patients than in March. Brussels has become one of the most affected cities in Europe.

This is an atypical view of Brussels in sunny weather – all the outdoor terraces are empty and no people, no diners. From Monday, October 19, all restaurants are closed for a whole month. Bars and cafes closed earlier. Close personal contacts outside the household are now only allowed with one person.

In Belgium, especially in Brussels, the incidence of Covid-19 has risen so much that testing sites and laboratories are not coping and very long queues have developed. Nevertheless, around 60,000 people were tested every day.

However, long queues at Covid-19 test centers have now been eliminated, as the government has decided that only those who already have symptoms will be able to test. People who have been in contact with a Covid-19 patient or who have entered from the so-called red areas could also be tested in the past.

However, the government itself acknowledges that such a reduction in the number of test subjects is not a good solution. It was done out of despair.

“We are all in the same situation. We must be careful. It’s not easy to tell ourselves that we need to go back to the restrictions on freedom, but we also understand why we’re doing it, ”said Antoine Sanssi, who is waiting for the Covid-19 test.

Hospitals are also experiencing an increase in the number of Covid-19 patients, and doctors are worried that hospitals may soon run out of space. For example, a hospital in Liège, one of the Belgian cities severely affected by Covid-19, is running short of staff. About 20% of hospital staff are ill themselves and there are far fewer volunteers than in the spring.

Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbruck has also spoken about the Covid-19 avalanche, which threatens to devour the Belgian healthcare system: “It is a snowball effect. It becomes an avalanche – an avalanche for hospitals, an avalanche for all doctors.

And it becomes impossible to treat patients who have heart problems and who have injuries.

Well, I think from now on we can talk about a terrible situation. “

Therefore, in addition to closing restaurants and inviting people to work from home, whenever possible, a curfew has been introduced in Belgium, from midnight to 5 am. And the city really is as extinct.

During the day, the streets of Brussels are only slightly empty than usual. Almost everyone is in masks and goes shopping in non-food stores. Failure to wear a mask is punishable by a fine of 250 euros.

In Belgium, the incidence of Covid-19 has risen so sharply again as people are tired of the pandemic and long restrictions. “It is true, it is difficult for us. But the thing is, we can’t solve the Covid-19 problem because people are not disciplined, ”said Henrik Martins, owner of Gout et Saveur.

And a vicious circle is formed – people are tired of restrictions, so they are no longer observed, then the number of sick people increases and new restrictions are set again, from which people are likely to get tired again.

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