The number of people dying following a coronavirus infection is increasing in Belgium, while the rise in the number of new Covid-19 cases continues, albeit more slowly.
Between 19 and 25 March, an average of 20.9 Covid-19 patients died on a daily basis, an increase of 11%, according to the figures published by the Sciensano Public Health Institute on Tuesday morning.
The total number of deaths in Belgium since the start of the pandemic amounts to 30,747. This figure also includes people who died of another cause of death, but who happened to be infected, meaning they are an overestimate of the deaths caused by the virus.
During the same week, an average of 11,052 new coronavirus infections were identified every day, an 11% increase from the previous seven days.
The Omicron BA.2 variant, which is accounting for 87.1% of all cases and is a highly transmissible Omicron subvariant, has been blamed for the increase in new cases.
The average number of PCR tests taken per day in the same period inclined by 8% to 37,889.6. The positivity rate now sits at 31.1%, meaning more than three out of ten tests has a positive result.
Situation in Belgian hospitals
Between 22 and 28 March, an average of 206.4 patients suffering from Covid-19 were admitted to hospitals each day – an increase of 20% 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.
Credit: Belga
On Monday, a total of 2,855 people were in Belgian hospitals due to an infection, 158 more than on Sunday, and around the same number as one month ago. Meanwhile, the number of people being treated in intensive care sits at 170 (+7), down from some 300 one month ago.
This number covers all patients who tested positive for Covid-19, including those who were first admitted with a different condition.
Reproduction rate, incidence, and total vaccinations
The reproduction rate (Rt) now sits at 1.11. This figure represents the average number of people that contract the virus from each infected person. When it is above 1, it means that the epidemic is gaining ground in Belgium.
The incidence (the number of new cases per 100,000 inhabitants) has once again started to rise rapidly and now sits at 1,279 over the past 14 days.
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As of Saturday, more than 9.12 million people are fully vaccinated – 89% of Belgium's adult population and 79% of the total population.
Meanwhile, almost 7.1 million people have received a booster dose of a coronavirus vaccine, representing 75% of over-18s and 62% of the entire population.
As of this week, the frequency of Sciensano's update on the epidemiological situation will be adjusted. Although it will continue to closely monitor the Covid situation in the country, it will also publish an update twice a week — on Tuesday and Friday — rather than on a daily basis.
