This Sunday morning, Sciensano announced that the number of new coronavirus infections during the period from July 9 to 15 had increased by 61% compared to the previous week. In total, there were 1,000 new infections during the week of July 9 to 15, an average of 143 cases per day.
Virologists and experts in the country are sounding the alarm. All recall the importance of respecting barrier gestures and for some of them, Belgians are indeed facing a second wave of the epidemic.
Au Vif, Emmanuel André explains that “what is worrying is that this increase in cases is mainly linked to a dynamic, young population, which is moving a lot and which will not directly translate into a high number of hospitalizations. But that remains a reservoir which is growing and which is likely to spread rapidly in the population. ”
“This increase seems to be something other than an artifact, since it is consolidating over time and in several places in the country. It is a very strong signal that the epidemic is starting to recover. The number of cases continues to evolve and we must take this seriously. We must not give as an argument: ‘it’s because we test more that we have more cases’. These are real cases, they are there, and that is enough as an important signal “, insists the virologist who last June resigned from his duties as” tracing “coordinator.
The virus is no longer circulating in our country and Emmanuel André calls for caution. “There are more possible fire starts. This is what has changed compared to a few weeks ago. The number of potential fireplaces is increasing. The ingredients are there to restart it: you have to be extremely vigilant” .
On Twitter, the virologist today called for close monitoring of infected people: “In each commune, a doctor and a social worker should be mobilized and work continuously to support infected people and guide those around them in the measures to be taken. to take.”
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