125 additional people have tested positive for the new coronavirus (Covid-19) in Belgium, according to figures by the Federal Public Health Service on Saturday.
This brings the total number of cases in Belgium since the beginning of the pandemic to 58,186. 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 from the consequences of the virus.
77 of the newly-infected people live in Flanders, 34 live in Wallonia, and 14 live in Brussels.
11,186 coronavirus tests have been taken in Belgium in the past 24 hours, from a total of 848,065 since the beginning of the outbreak.
29 new patients were admitted to hospital in the last 24 hours, and 87 were discharged. The total number of people in hospital because of the coronavirus at the moment is 890.
Of the patients in hospital, 173 are in the intensive care unit, 14 fewer than yesterday. 85 ICU patients are on a respirator, five fewer than 24 hours before.
23 new deaths have been reported, bringing the total number of people who died because of the coronavirus to 9,453.
Of the new deaths, 13 took place in hospital and eight in care homes, with two deaths occurring elsewhere. All care homes cases were confirmed by tests. Of all of the deaths so far, 48% took place in hospital, and 51% in care homes.
The government’s coronavirus crisis centre now gives the daily figures with a press conference only on Fridays. Today’s figures were released without comment.
At yesterday’s press conference, meanwhile, Professor Steven Van Gucht confirmed that the main indicators – absenteeism at work, GP consultations for flu-like symptoms, the antibodies found in the blood of previously infected patients, hospital admissions, intensive care beds occupied and deaths – were all moving in a positive direction.
“This shows that the lockdown measures have worked very well," Van Gucht said.
Alan Hope
The Brussels Times
