Over the past two weeks, positive cases have been on the rise here. While testing also increased at the same time, the test positive rate is also rising, so it definitely looks like cases are increasing. Plus Belgium, which is very close to where I live, has strong rise in cases as well, particularly in the city where my sister and my nephews live. At the same time, our government is still saying masks are not necessary in most situations. Even if they're not - at least people won't forget that there's a virus going around if they wear it.

On the bright side, number of people admitted to hospitals has not risen, maybe it still will, or maybe we are now finding more mild cases (there is a major increase in positive tests for younger people). And after the government sounded the alarm on the number of people with mild symptoms not getting tested, literally the next day there was a massive increase in tests already. So people are still listening, so perhaps the rise in cases will slow down soon as people are aware it is happening. We'll see.

If I were to visit my sister now, who lives ~40 minutes away, I'd have to quarantine for 2 weeks now Then again, I avoid traveling as much as possible anyway so I was not planning to do that.
Quote Originally Posted by Timbuk2 View Post
Coronavirus: England highest level of excess deaths in Europe

Click to view the full version

England had the highest levels of excess deaths in Europe between the end of February and the middle of June, official analysis shows.

The Office for National Statistics says England saw the second highest peak rates of death in Europe, after Spain.

But England had the longest period where deaths were above average, and so overall had the highest levels.

Areas in Spain and Italy, like Milan and Madrid, were harder hit than cities in the UK

But the ONS analysis shows the epidemic in the UK was more widespread than in other countries, with Scotland seeing the third highest death rate in Europe.
I am curious why the French numbers are so extraordinarily low when their official numbers are not.

edit: just saw that this is from may 23d onwards, so I guess their numbers peaked well before that.