Coronavirus: “the cards are in our hands”
As is the case in a number of other European countries the figures relating to the number of positive coronavirus tests and the number of people with the virus that are being hospitalised have flattened off during the past week. Although the figures are not rising here as is the case in Germany and The Netherlands, they are still too high for comfort. This is the opinion given by the virologist Steven Van Gucht at Friday morning’s public health science institute Sciensano press conference.
Professor Van Gucht told the press conference that “Together we have succeeded in bringing down some of the highest coronavirus figures in Europe to some of the lowest. Professor Van Gucht told the press conference that “Together we have succeeded in bringing down some of the highest coronavirus figures in Europe to some of the lowest.
Unfortunately, the level current plateau is still too high and unsafe. With just under 200 hospitalisations per day there the hospitals are still under strain and the number of people becoming ill and dying remains too high”.
"The curve will soon choose which direction to take, downwards or upwards. The cards are in our hands. The thing now is to persist”.
“Due to the wet and weather we are spending more time indoors and this works to the virus’ advantage. The virus spreads much easier in doors and we see this in the figures".
The bad weather discourages us from meeting up out of doors but resist the temptation to arrange to meet a lot of people indoors”, Professor Van Gucht added.
"The coming winter months will be the most difficult for us and the easiest for the virus. You should be aware that the virus spreads more easily indoors through so-called aerosols. Place where people gather such as workplace need to be well ventilated. Ventilate at lease once an hour or leave several windows ajar”, Professor Van Gucht concluded.