The country most terrified by the second wave: how the journey to the abyss began

COVID-19 is just around the corner

When I got back to the street around the corner on Monday, I saw a picture like from a Hollywood movie about epidemics: an ambulance with traffic lights on facing traffic, a transfer stretcher ready, and a doctor in white overalls, with a special mask and glasses. Through the windows of the house, where the ambulance was, an elderly man, with a special breathing mask on his face, could be seen descending slowly, held tightly by other doctors. Compassion, bitterness, fear mixed in my head.

“It just came to our notice then. At 11 million. Team, we are stronger. We put our destiny in the hands of others. We are 11 million. The team and every member of the team is important. We need everyone to defeat the virus. Take care of yourself himself and others, “Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in a dramatic video statement.

How not to be dramatic here when a country invades the absolute leaders of COVID-19 infections across the EU.

The current number of infections in Belgium has already exceeded the spring statistics: between 13 and 17 thousand are registered per day. new cases of coronavirus. Nearly 700 patients are hospitalized each day in hospitals that already have few places, and scheduled surgeries are delayed to place COVID-19 patients.

At the time, experts warn that the Belgian healthcare system, which has so far been considered one of the best in Europe, may not be able to withstand such pressures. It is said that hotels will soon be requisitioned for the needs of hospitals, and doctors will come to the aid of doctors.

If in the spring Belgium became known as the country with the highest number of deaths from coronavirus (in terms of total population), it is now the largest hotbed of COVID-19 in Europe. According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Belgium had 1,498.7 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 on Thursday. population and this is the highest indicator in the EU (in Lithuania it reached 201.6).

It is true that in the spring the Belgian authorities had an explanation: they included all those who were at risk in deaths from coronavirus, that is, they did not investigate individual cases. It is now difficult to explain why such a large number of COVID-19 infections are difficult.

A trip to the abyss

As the number of infected people began to rise again in the second half of July, Belgium returned to restrictions: masks are mandatory in all interior areas and restrictions on the number of contacts and participants in events have been renewed. . COVID-19 cases did not decline, but their growth stopped.

However, at the end of August it was unexpectedly decided to relax the restrictions. The public got tired, then the politicians believed, and the large number of infections was explained with the excuse that was heard in Lithuania: “We tried more, we found more cases.”

Furthermore, the political crisis continued, with Belgium living without a permanent government for 16 months, and Acting Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès, who, by the way, recently became infected with COVID-19 and was admitted to the intensive care unit, did not know. felt politically strong.

“It is true that he may have sent the wrong signal. The idea was to find a balance and try to live with the virus. Given the coming autumn and winter, it was a risky move, ”Politico.eu quotes Steven Van Gucht, virologist and government advisor.

Furthermore, many believed then that if there is a second wave, it will not start until the end of October-November. But this year, at least in Belgium, the cool, rainy weather came earlier.

“If we look back, a lot has been done in the right direction during the first wave, but it is clear that the exit strategy was partly too fast and restrictions were dropped too early,” a press conference on Wednesday not only on Belgium if not all EU countries The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, had been quarantined several times for being in contact with a person who had been approved for COVID-19, and two of her commissioners had also contracted the coronavirus.

Finally, a new Belgian government was agreed at the end of September and some restrictions were soon introduced: the hours of the bars were reduced to 23 hours, with only 4 people sitting at the tables. This established the position of the COVID-19 Commissioner, which centralizes action against the pandemic. The COVID-19 app has been launched, informing testing centers about patient contact. However, the COVID-19 train was already in full swing.

Two weeks later, even more serious measures were introduced: bars, cafes and restaurants were closed, the consumption of alcohol in public places was banned, sales were restricted, person-to-person contacts were reduced to a minimum, a curfew was introduced to from 24 hours. until 5 pm tomorrow, compulsory work from home.

Some regions and municipalities have taken even tougher measures. For example, Brussels, which has become the European Capital of COVID-19, has extended the curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., has shortened the opening hours of stores from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m. , has closed all museums, exhibitions, swimming pools, sports clubs, etc. It is even difficult to list the prohibited. , perhaps easier to say what is allowed. The French-speaking Walloon Region, “record holder” for coronavirus, has also taken similar measures.

At the time, the third Dutch-speaking region in Belgium, Flanders, refused to tighten the restrictions (but later accepted them).

It is the complex political-administrative system of Belgium (trilingualism, constant friction between the regions and the municipality and the central government) that may also partly explain the uncontrollable coronavirus. Or, as the critics say, a “chaotic response.”

Even the doctors wore masks in disapproval

Another aspect is the Belgians themselves. They may not have protested as much against the restrictions as, for example, the Germans (although there have been demonstrations of this type in Belgium), but that does not mean that Belgians tend to follow the rules like the Germans themselves.

Even now, people who do not wear masks can be found on the streets, although they are mandatory everywhere. Masks that have fallen below the nose are already a tradition that was born when shops, restaurants or bars were allowed to open after the first wave in the spring, but on the condition that service personnel wear face masks in every moment.

Most surprising, however, was the image seen a few weeks ago, when a doctor testing for COVID-19 in a clinic did not always wear a mask in the hallway, and patients were examined after wearing the mask: ” it’s easier to breathe. “

As for testing, this is another problem that dispels the myth of the ideal Belgian healthcare system. Unlike in Lithuania, the test results in Brussels had to wait 2-3 days, now no test is performed if the person does not show symptoms of coronavirus, despite having had contact or suspecting that they have contracted COVID-19.

Only now Brussels has asked for 100,000. rapid tests, which should reduce laboratory workload (49,000 tests were carried out in Brussels last week). To date, Belgium has not recognized rapid tests. It is not surprising that the EU institutions have created testing centers for their own staff.

Waiting for a full shutdown?

“It just came to our notice then. Our country, our economy and our business will not survive the new isolation,” Belgian Prime Minister De Croo said shortly after his appointment.

“Don’t cut into the well,” says a Lithuanian proverb. A Belgian advisory committee will meet on Friday afternoon and is expected to decide to shut down the country again. All the more so since neighboring France, followed by Belgium, has already taken this step.

“The health situation is critical. As in our neighborhood, it is time for us to apply the emergency brake: isolation,” said Marc Van Ranst, a well-known Belgian virologist who has advised the government since the beginning of the pandemic on his Twitter account .