Doctors in Antwerp urged the city’s residents on Friday to demonstrate civic-mindedness and spontaneously self-confine to limit the effects of a second wave of the new coronavirus (Covid-19).
A rise in new infections places added pressure on doctors and prompted the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) to change Flanders' colour code to orange in the latest edition of a map on its website that tracks the evolution of the pandemic.
The orange classification means Flanders has joined the group of countries with 20 to 59.9 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants. Brussels and Wallonia are in yellow, signifying countries or regions with fewer than 20 cases for every 100,000 residents.
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In Flanders, the regional association of general practitioners, Domus Medica, said it was worried by the evolution of the pandemic in the region and expressed support for a call from the governor of Antwerp province to limit social contacts to two or three regular people.
“It’s becoming really important to avoid other meeting places, especially marriages, fairs and spontaneous sporting events in squares and parks,” Domus Medica stressed. “We know for certain today that that’s where the main epidemiological outbreaks occurred last week.”
The doctors suggested that any visitor returning home after staying in Antwerp should be quarantined.
The Brussels Times
