Figures present the toughest corona summer season in 4 years: “The virus spreads simply, particularly throughout festivals”

No, corona just isn’t but a seasonal virus. Summer season is in full swing, however out of the blue an infection charges are rising once more. The samples within the sewage water taken and processed by the KU Leuven laboratory on Tuesday revealed that air pollution figures have been twice as excessive as in 2022. Final summer season and in 2021, corona was virtually fully absent -present in sewage water.

“Not anticipating a lot for the summer season,” stated lab supervisor Elke Wollants. “It is nonetheless a really unpredictable virus. We have now been anticipating for a while that it behaves just like the flu or RSV viruses, which solely seem when the climate begins to show dangerous. However Covid-19 continues to shock us. ” (Proceed studying beneath the graph)

Passing cups

Wollants has a shocking clarification for that upward curve. “There are numerous festivals the place the virus can unfold simply. The reusable cups don’t do a lot good. These are simpler to manage: perfect for transmitting illness as properly. You might be very alert about this once you work in a laboratory, however it additionally occurred to us after I was at Werchter.”

“However that is actually not the one clarification,” says Wollants, “my colleagues within the Netherlands and america are additionally noticing a rise once more. ”

“The reusable cups do not do a lot good. You give it extra simply: perfect for giving illness too.”

Elke Wollants

Laboratory supervisor KU Leuven

(Learn extra beneath the image)

Sciensano additionally noticed the numbers rise in current weeks. At present, roughly one in 5 monitored exams are constructive. In contrast to KU Leuven, this week’s figures are usually not but out there, however final week’s figures tended to point stability, in keeping with entomologist Steven Van Gucht. He additionally warns that the waste water figures in Leuven are usually not all the time consultant of the entire nation.

“Do not delay barbecues”

“It’s certainly larger than final summer season, however in comparison with winters we’re nonetheless at a low degree,” says Van Gucht. “The infections don’t result in extra hospital admissions and GPs are additionally quiet .There’s extra exercise, however nothing shocking. The dangerous climate up to now months or weeks, or the small modifications.”

However there isn’t any purpose to fret. “It is all the time good to forestall infections, however you should not resist going to a celebration now.” You do not have to show off barbecues. Allow us to act usually, by way of cough hygiene and hand hygiene. And in case you are sick, keep dwelling or preserve your distance, particularly from weak folks. “