Belgium has surpassed the tragic milestone of 30,000 Covid-19 deaths, but the average number of people dying as a result of the virus is decreasing for the first time in weeks.
Between 12 and 18 February, an average of 40.9 Covid-19 patients died on a daily basis, down by 13% since last week, 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 30,015. It is important to note that the official death statistics include 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.
The recent decrease in average deaths means the peaks of all major indicators of the fifth wave have been passed, as both the numbers of new infections and new hospitalisations are continuing to drop.
During the same week, an average of 9,587 new coronavirus infections were identified every day – a 39% decrease on the previous seven days. The Omicron variant currently accounts for just 69.7% of all cases in Belgium, down 14% since last week.
The average number of PCR tests taken per day in the same period declined by 21% to 44,745.4. The positivity rate now sits at 24.9%, meaning around a quarter of all tests have a positive result.
Situation in Belgian hospitals
Between 15 and 21 February, an average of 209.3 patients suffering from Covid-19 were admitted to hospitals each day – a decrease 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.
On Monday, a total of 2,999 people were in Belgian hospitals due to infection – 85 more than on Sunday (this number often increases just after the weekend). This number covers all patients who tested positive for Covid-19, including those who were first admitted with a different condition.
The number of patients in a life-threatening condition also continues to decrease. Currently, 315 people are being treated in intensive care (ten days ago this figure was still nearing 400, while 136 patients are on a ventilator.
Reproduction rate, incidence, and total vaccinations
The reproduction rate (Rt) has slightly increased to 0.85. This figure represents the average number of people that contract the virus from each infected person, and 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) is continuing to decrease and now sits at 1,534 over the past 14 days.
As of Sunday, more than 9 million people are fully vaccinated – 89% of Belgium's adult population and 78% of the total population.
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Meanwhile, more than 6.92 million people have received a booster dose of a coronavirus vaccine, representing 74% of over-18s and 60% of the entire population. The majority of adults should have had the opportunity to get a booster dose by March 2022.
A recent study from the United Kingdom's Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) showed that booster vaccinations are estimated to have prevented 105,600 people from ending up in hospitals following a Covid-19 infection since mid-December.
