Everyday Covid-19 infections continue to rise in Belgium and have crossed an average of 10,000 new cases every day.
According to data published by the Sciensano Public Health Institute on Monday, an average of 9,953 covid cases were registered daily, an increase of 25% over the previous seven days.
The Omicron BA.2 variant accounts for about 81.1% of all cases, while the delta variant has completely disappeared in the country.
The average number of PCR tests per day rose by 8% to 37,622.9 in the same period. The positivity rate now sits at 28.4%, which means that about three out of ten tests have a positive result.
After increasing slightly, the number of deaths due to Covid-19 seems to be decreasing again. During the same week, an average of 16.7 COVID-19 patients died every day.
This figure also includes people who died from some other cause of death but who became infected, meaning they overestimate deaths due to the virus.
With the coronavirus figures rising sharply after Belgium lifted most restrictions, Erike Vlieghe, infectious disease expert and chairman of the GEMS expert group, has warned that caution is advised. “Notably, the number of cases is increasing in people over 65. It worries us.”
Between 15 and 21 March, an average of 169.7 patients suffering from Covid-19 were admitted to hospitals each day – an increase of 11% on the seven days previous.
This number reflects how many people end up in hospital specifically because of the virus, not those who are admitted with another condition and then test positive for the coronavirus.
Since the end of February, the number of people aged over 80 being hospitalised has decreased slightly, while a rise has been recorded in those aged 40 to 59.
