The number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals in Belgium has surpassed 2,000 for the first time since the start of May this year, while infections continue to rise, albeit more slowly.
In the last seven days, an average of 157.6 patients suffering from Covid-19 were admitted to hospitals each day — up by 13% from the previous seven days, which means the increase is slowing down slightly.
The figure, which hasn't been this high since the end of April, reflects how many people are hospitalised directly because of the virus, not those admitted with another condition and then also test positive for Covid-19.
On Thursday, a total of 2,183 people were in Belgian hospitals due to an infection, almost 200 more than Tuesday, while the number of people being treated in intensive care rose to 98 (+10), the highest this figure has been since mid-May.
This number covers all patients who tested positive for Covid-19, including those who were first admitted with a different condition.
Cases, tests and deaths
Between 5 and 11 July, an average of 7,898 new daily Covid-19 infections was identified: a 26% increase from the previous seven days and 200 more than when figures were last updated on Tuesday, according to figures published by the Sciensano Institute of Public Health on Friday morning.
The average number of tests taken per day is slightly lower than at the start of this week, sitting around 21,700. The positivity rate has risen to 37.9%, meaning almost two in five tests has a positive result.
Credit: The Brussels Times
Omicron BA.5 remains the dominant strain, accounting for 80.6% of all infections. The strain is said to be no more or less infectious than the other Omicron subvariants but it does succeed very well in circumventing people’s accumulated immunity.
Deaths as a result of infection remain relatively stable: almost nine Covid-19 patients died each day over the past seven days – up by 2% from the previous week.
The total number of deaths in Belgium since the start of the pandemic amounts to 32,051. However, this figure includes people who died of another cause but who happened to be infected, meaning that this is an overestimate of deaths attributed to Covid-19.
Reproduction rate, incidence, and total vaccinations
The reproduction rate once again increased to 1.09. 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) also continues to rise and now sits at 857 over the past 14 days.
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As of Tuesday, more than 9.09 million people are fully vaccinated – 89% of Belgium's adult population and 78% of the total population. This figure was higher, but since the end of June, this figure takes into account vaccinated people who died.
Meanwhile, more than 7.17 million people have received a booster dose of the vaccine, representing 76% of over-18s and 62% of the entire population. From September onwards, an additional booster will be available to a larger group of the population. Find out if you are eligible here.
