All coronavirus indicators in Belgium are down according to the latest figures published by the Sciensano public health institute on Friday.
Between 17 and 23 November, an average of 2,764.6 new people tested positive per day over the past week, which is a 37% decrease compared to the week before.
The total number of confirmed cases in Belgium since the beginning of the pandemic is 567,532. 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, 434.1 infections were confirmed per 100,000 inhabitants, which is a 65% drop compared to the two weeks before.
Between 20 and 24 November, an average of 256.9 patients was admitted to hospital, down 31% from the week before.
In total, 4,395 coronavirus patients are currently admitted to hospital, or 175 fewer than yesterday.
Of the patients currently admitted, 1,034 are in intensive care, which is 37 less than the day before. A total of 671 patients are on a ventilator.
From 17 to 23 November, an average number of 149.1 deaths occurred per day, marking a 21.3% decrease compared to the week before.
The total number of deaths in the country since the beginning of the pandemic is currently 16,219 – 142 more than yesterday.
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Since the start of the pandemic, a total of 5,794,351 tests have been carried out. Of those tests, an average of 28,207.7 were taken daily over the past week, with a positivity rate of 12.5%. That means that one in eight people who get tested receive a positive result.
The percentage went down by 6.2% compared to last week. Since Monday, asymptomatic people can get tested for coronavirus again.
The testing strategy was temporarily adapted from 21 October as testing material was becoming scarce, testing centres saw too-long lines and laboratories were under high pressure.
The reproduction rate, finally, stands at 0.79. That rate (Rt) is the rate at which the virus spreads. As it remains below 1.0, it means that a person infected with coronavirus infects less than one other person on average.
Jason Spinks
The Brussels Times
