The lack of testing capacity in the Brussels-Capital Region means that the number of recorded coronavirus infections is likely not rising as fast as it should be, experts warned during a press conference on Wednesday.
While the Brussels-Capital Region still recorded the highest number of infections over the past week with an average of 881 new cases per day, the increase (52%) is less pronounced than in other regions and provinces in the country.
"It is unlikely that the slower rise in Brussels already has anything to do with more stringent measures," said virologist and interfederal Covid-19 spokesperson Steven Van Gucht. "It is more likely that this is due to the lack of testing capacity."
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During the week of 4 to 10 October, almost 1 in 5 inhabitants of Brussels who were tested, received a positive result, which is "particularly high," according to Van Gucht.
The test positivity rate in the Brussels-Capital Region is 19.3%, which is the highest in Belgium. The national average is 11.7%, which means that the ratio of positive tests across Belgium is also rising.
Maïthé Chini
The Brussels Times
