Belgium's average daily coronavirus infections have risen by more than 30%, according to the latest official figures published by the Sciensano public health institute on Friday.
Between 9 and 15 March, an average of 3,266 new people tested positive per day, which is a 34% increase compared to the week before.
The total number of confirmed cases in Belgium since the beginning of the pandemic is 822,801. The total reflects all people in Belgium who have been infected, and includes confirmed active cases as well as patients who have since recovered, or died as a result of the virus.
Over the past two weeks, 347.1 infections were confirmed per 100,000 inhabitants, which is a 22% increase compared to the two weeks before.
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Between 12 and 18 March, an average of 185.1 patients were admitted to hospital per day, an increase of 27% compared to the week before.
In total, 2,140 coronavirus patients are currently in hospital, or 19 more than yesterday. Of all patients, 543 are in intensive care, which is 9 more than yesterday. A total of 297 patients are on a ventilator – 22 more than yesterday.
From 9 to 15 March, an average number of 22.9 deaths occurred per day, marking a 10.6% decrease compared to the week before.
The total number of deaths in the country since the beginning of the pandemic is currently 22,624.
Since the start of the pandemic, a total of 10,325,566 tests have been carried out. Of those tests, an average of 49,088.6 were taken per day over the past week, with a positivity rate of 7%.
The percentage went up by 0.8% compared to last week, while testing increased by 11%.
A total of 864,841 people in Belgium have been partially vaccinated against coronavirus, or 9.4% of the population aged 18 and older. In addition, 409,408 people - or 3.6% of the entire population - have been fully vaccinated.
The reproduction rate, meanwhile, now stands at 1.16, meaning that one person with coronavirus infects more than one other person on average and that the pandemic is growing in Belgium.
Jason Spinks
The Brussels Times
