A doctor dying of corona. That cuts a little deeper. It is the caregiver, who could not be helped. This is how the death of Merchtem professor and general practitioner Jan Vandevoorde (61) feels to family and friends. ‘Jan was a very sweet man. Obsessed with science. He was a particularly fine colleague who held meticulousness in high regard and was much loved as a colleague and professor. He was always open to conversation when the going got tough. His warm personality will particularly add to the loss.’

From the VUB, Prof Vandevoorde was one of the stalwarts of the inter-university course in family medicine. He also worked as a general practitioner in a four-man group practice in Merchtem.