Full hospitals, record numbers of infections and a second lockdown: Belgium had been particularly hard hit in recent months.
But now the worst seems to be over.
What we can learn from them.
Belgium
recorded a high of almost 24,000
new
Corona *
infections
in one day
in October
.
The
lockdown
followed at the beginning of November
.
The
numbers
have now
stabilized
, and one
measure in
particular
has contributed to this.
Brussels - The "
tsunami
" and
loss of control
seem to have been overcome.
Belgium counted in the
second wave *
among the
countries
most severely affected by the
Corona *
pandemic
.
At its peak in late October, the country recorded a daily infection rate of
23,921 people a day
.
Numbers as currently in Germany.
But Belgium has just under 11.5 million inhabitants compared to Germany's 80 million inhabitants.
The country was on the
verge of collapse
and the health system was overwhelmed.
The health minister warned of a "tsunami".
Corona in Belgium: emergency brake and lockdown - can we learn from our neighbors?
And then?
The government pulled the
emergency brake
:
lockdown
.
Shops had to close, supermarkets were only allowed to offer products of daily use, the autumn holidays were extended, the closure of pubs, restaurants and cafes and night curfews had already been in effect.
"We should have responded earlier,"
says the Belgian virologist van
Gucht now.
But it was
difficult
to convince
the
population
of the urgency of a
lockdown
.
One measure that helped to contain the pandemic in Belgium, among other things, was the so-called
"cuddle contacts".
What sounds cute has a serious background.
Every citizen should only have one permanent contact.
The number of infections in Belgium is currently only around 3,200 infections
per
day
(as of
November
21)
.
The country seems to have turned around.
From 11 p.m. back to 3,000 infections.
So can we Germans learn from our neighbors?
The federal government also wants to discuss new measures on Wednesday.
However, the
“one-friend rule”
has come under severe criticism from some German politicians.
SPD MP Dreyer described them as "alien to life".
Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier was recently impressed by the
successes of Belgium
, but also France and the Netherlands.
He
also attributed the
decline in the number of infections
“to the
great discipline of the citizens
in these countries”.
.
@peteraltmaier is hoping for courageous decisions from the next federal-state meeting: The economy and all those involved need clarity.
In the event of an extension of the lockdown, he holds out the prospect of further #business aid.
@DLF #interviewderwoche https://t.co/ZwxVbL3bVS
- BMWi Bund (@BMWi_Bund) November 22, 2020
Corona in Belgium: has the pandemic really been overcome?
- Virologist warns - appeal also addressed to Germany
Has Belgium managed to turn around completely?
A harmless winter is not ahead of the neighboring country.
Virologist van Gucht
warns
-
also in the direction of Germany
.
“I understand that people want to relax after a difficult year.” However, a
hasty relaxation of
the contact restrictions over Christmas and New Year carries the
risk of
a
third wave
.
People who are
infected over the Christmas *
, in turn, could
other New Year's Eve
with the virus
infected
.
The
virologist is also rather critical of
skiing holidays
.
“Meet, kiss, dance”: This is the ideal breeding ground for the spread of a virus *, experience with the flu virus also shows.
The pandemic is not over yet
.
Not in Germany and not in Belgium.
The health system in Belgium remains under heavy strain.
"I think
we are facing difficult times,
" says a nurse who works on a corona ward herself.
The
nursing staff is "tired"
and therefore more susceptible to illnesses.
During the peak phase in Belgium, nurses had to go to work despite the corona infection *.
Many companies are also facing bankruptcy.
"This pandemic feels surreal, even for a virologist,"
said van Gucht.
(chd with dpa)
List of rubric lists: © Ophelie Delarouzee / BELGA / dpa