Coronavirus in Belgium: further increase in infections and hospitalisations

The number of coronavirus infections continues to rise ​ in Belgium. From 16 to 22 March, there were 10,561 new infections every day, an increase of 17 percent compared to the previous week. The number of hospital admissions has also increased in the past seven days, to an average of 192, or an increase of 13 percent, as Sciensano's online dashboard indicated on Saturday.

Together with the number of infections and hospitalisations, there has also been an increase in the number of tests being carried out. From 16 to 22 March, there were on average 37,400 tests, 4 percent more than in the previous week. Of those tests, 30 per cent turned out to be positive.

On Friday, there were 2,680 people with COVID-19 in Belgian hospitals, 18 percent more than the week before. The number of people in intensive care is still decreasing. 165 people were nursed in intensive care, a decrease of 4 percent compared to the previous week.

The number of deaths is also still falling, but very slightly. From 16 to 22 March, the average number of deaths per day was 19.9, a decrease of 1 per cent. ​

The current reproduction rate is 1.11. If the number is greater than 1, it means that the epidemic is increasing.

PHOTO © BELGA