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I have closely followed the situation in Belgium and found it quite fascinating and, also, really sad.
One of the key takeaways is how fractured their society can be and the importance of a coherent, unified response at the national level. /1
One of the key takeaways is how fractured their society can be and the importance of a coherent, unified response at the national level. /1
Belgium has 89 municipalities in excess of 3,000.0 per 100,000 on 14-day cases. Here are some bigger places with high cases:
Municipality (population): 14-day cases
Verviers (55,300): 4,344.0
La Louvière (81,000): 3,550.0
Mouscron (58,800): 3,466.0
Liége (197,200): 3,019.0
Municipality (population): 14-day cases
Verviers (55,300): 4,344.0
La Louvière (81,000): 3,550.0
Mouscron (58,800): 3,466.0
Liége (197,200): 3,019.0
Infection is so endemic in Belgium tonight that 433 of the 581 municipalities are over 1,000.0 per 100,000.
The only Irish county to exceed 1,000.0 was Cavan which reached 1,058.1 per 100,000 on October 23rd and remains the highest in Ireland at 590.7 today.
The only Irish county to exceed 1,000.0 was Cavan which reached 1,058.1 per 100,000 on October 23rd and remains the highest in Ireland at 590.7 today.
One question is how did this happen?
I read Belgian epidemiological reports daily and the simple answer is it's a very transmissible virus going through households like wildfire.
There is a more complex answer, that touches on language, religion, division and politics.
I read Belgian epidemiological reports daily and the simple answer is it's a very transmissible virus going through households like wildfire.
There is a more complex answer, that touches on language, religion, division and politics.
Belgium is a densely populated, yet deeply divided country.
You had wildly different regional approaches on the pandemic and they never put their heads together to agree on much.
"Institutional lasagna" is how I saw the response described, each layer doing their own thing.
You had wildly different regional approaches on the pandemic and they never put their heads together to agree on much.
"Institutional lasagna" is how I saw the response described, each layer doing their own thing.
The mayor of Aalst in Flanders went on record to refuse to accept any patients from Brussels.
"Medical solidarity has limits and borders" he said.
Imagine the Mayor of Naas refusing to accept any sick people from Portarlington, and saying 'off back to Laois with ye!'.
"Medical solidarity has limits and borders" he said.
Imagine the Mayor of Naas refusing to accept any sick people from Portarlington, and saying 'off back to Laois with ye!'.
This prompted hospital directors in Aalst telling him to do one.
That of course they will accept seriously sick people from Brussels, that the very essence of the medical profession is to ignore borders and help the sick, wherever they come from.
That of course they will accept seriously sick people from Brussels, that the very essence of the medical profession is to ignore borders and help the sick, wherever they come from.
It wasn't just Aalst.
Charleroi hospital, which still had capacity, refused Brussels patients, including throwing a dig:
"Why should I compromise our capacity and care for the people of the region, just because they do not function well in Brussels?" https://www.brusselstimes.com/brussels/135662/charleroi-hospital-refuses-to-take-covid-19-patients-from-brussels-grand-hopital-de-ghdc-coronavirus-aalst-vilvoorde-geert-meyfroidt-manfredi-ventura-hainaut/
Charleroi hospital, which still had capacity, refused Brussels patients, including throwing a dig:
"Why should I compromise our capacity and care for the people of the region, just because they do not function well in Brussels?" https://www.brusselstimes.com/brussels/135662/charleroi-hospital-refuses-to-take-covid-19-patients-from-brussels-grand-hopital-de-ghdc-coronavirus-aalst-vilvoorde-geert-meyfroidt-manfredi-ventura-hainaut/
Division between Francophone and Flemish regions extended to policy.
In Brussels there was a cap on funeral attendances but if someone died 12 miles away, you could have 3 times more people at the funeral.
You could drink until 10pm in one area but minutes down the road 12am.
In Brussels there was a cap on funeral attendances but if someone died 12 miles away, you could have 3 times more people at the funeral.
You could drink until 10pm in one area but minutes down the road 12am.
Regional approaches were not unique to Belgium, we saw them in Ireland, Spain and many places.
What is almost unique is Belgium didn't base these approaches so much on epidemiology, and more on not wanting to conform with what the Francophones or Flemish just did.
What is almost unique is Belgium didn't base these approaches so much on epidemiology, and more on not wanting to conform with what the Francophones or Flemish just did.
Belgium went 2 years without a formal government until they recently got that sorted on October 1st.
It was against that backdrop of uncertainty, with bickering regions and neighbours, that the virus just danced its way around the place. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/world/europe/belgium-government-coalition.html
It was against that backdrop of uncertainty, with bickering regions and neighbours, that the virus just danced its way around the place. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/world/europe/belgium-government-coalition.html
What you were left with in totality is a complete mess of regional governments making up their own rules as they went along.
Alongside that incoherence, you had the language of blame, animosity, division and lots and lots of pointing fingers at each other.
Alongside that incoherence, you had the language of blame, animosity, division and lots and lots of pointing fingers at each other.
All of this has got to a point where the Catholic Church this week were issuing appeals for solidarity between regions to work together.
You know things are not going great when the Church has to be like "lads come on please, knock it off".
You know things are not going great when the Church has to be like "lads come on please, knock it off".
No response has been perfect and countries are making it up as they go along for the most part.
What's happening in Belgium shows a coherent national approach and solidarity between regions is far better than an "I'm alright Jack, sort out your own problems" response.
What's happening in Belgium shows a coherent national approach and solidarity between regions is far better than an "I'm alright Jack, sort out your own problems" response.
