The average number of daily coronavirus infections has fallen below 10,000. This is apparent from data from health institute Sciensano on Friday.
–
jvhSource: BELGIAN
—
From March 29 to April 4, there were an average of 9,658 . daily infections, a decrease of 14 percent. “For the first time in five weeks, we are again seeing a decrease in the number of coronavirus infections. This is especially noticeable in Flanders and among young people,” explains virologist Steven Van Gucht in Sciensano’s weekly corona bulletin. For example, the number of infections is still rising in the provinces of Walloon Brabant, Hainaut and Namur for the time being. “It is the first time that we have observed a decrease in corona infections under code yellow, and that is good news.”
An average of 38,000 tests were administered per day (-2 percent), of which 28 percent showed positive (-3 percent). The number of daily contacts with GPs due to suspected Covid-19 fell to 78 per 100,000 inhabitants last week. A week earlier, there had been an average of 89 contacts. The reproduction number is now 0.99 – with an R-number higher than 1, the epidemic increases in strength.
The number of new hospital admissions also fell between 1 and 7 April, albeit less strongly. There were an average of 215 new admissions every day, a decrease of 2 percent. There are now 3,073 people in hospitals with corona, an increase of 3 percent. Of that group, 176 patients are in intensive care, also an increase of 2 percent.
“The new hospital admissions also seem to have peaked,” said Van Gucht. “However, the burden on hospitals still remains high. We still recommend that you remain cautious in the presence of vulnerable individuals. The flu virus currently seems to be gaining some ground, but the peak of the flu may also be in sight.”
In the period from March 29 to April 4, the number of death increased slightly. That is now 23.7 deaths per day, 3 percent more than a week before. The weekly corona bulletin mentions a stabilization of the Covid-19 mortality.
Van Gucht continues to insist on the importance of vaccination† While 89 percent of the adult population had a first and second shot, the vaccination coverage for the booster is significantly lower at 75 percent. “We still see that some of the people who belong to a risk group have not yet taken a third vaccine dose,” says the virologist. “However, the third dose provides much better protection against serious illness. People over 65 are more than two times less likely to end up in intensive care after a third dose than after the first two doses.”
—
