Between October 18 and 24, more than 15.1 people on average died each day from the virus, up 16% from the previous seven-day period, according to figures from the Institute of Public Health Sciensano published Thursday. The death toll now stands at more than 25,900 deaths since the start of the pandemic in Belgium. During the same period, an average of 5,691 people were infected with Covid-19 every day. This is a 75% increase from the previous week.
Each day, nearly 67,100 tests on average were also carried out, for a positivity rate of 8.8%. Compared to the data available last Thursday, the positivity rate is on the rise (6.8%) but the number of screenings also (on average 50,261 daily tests last week).
If we look at the distribution by age group, children aged 0 to 9 (who do not benefit from the vaccination) have the highest positivity rate (12.9%), followed by young people from 10 to 19 years (9.8%). Among adults, who have all had the opportunity to be vaccinated, 9% of 140,726 tests (the highest number among all age groups) performed by 40-64 year olds came back positive. The 20-39 year olds and the 65 year olds or more have the same positivity rate, ie 7.7%.
In addition, between October 21 and 27, 125 daily hospital admissions of coronavirus patients were also recorded, an increase of 43% compared to the previous reference period. In total, 1,379 infected people are hospitalized (+ 38%), including 255 treated in intensive care (+ 6%).
The virus reproduction rate (calculated on the basis of hospitalizations between October 21 and 27) reached 1.24. When it is greater than 1, this indicator means that the epidemic is tending to accelerate.
The incidence, which indicates the number of new cases per 100,000 inhabitants, reached 544.8 over 14 days (between October 11 and 24).
We also note that the highest incidence is observed in the municipalities of Oddsbergen (Limbourg, 2,415 / 100,000) and Anzegem (West Flanders, 2,337 / 100,000), two municipalities nevertheless having a high vaccination rate (respectively 83%). and 84%). Three municipalities in Liège follow (Burg-Reuland, Saint-Vith and Amblève), with incidences of between 1,925 and 1,793 / 100,000 and vaccination coverage varying between 59% and 65%. The Brussels municipality with the highest incidence rate is Woluwe-Saint-Pierre (905 / 100,000), 69% of its population being fully vaccinated.
Finally, 87% of adults in Belgium (nearly 8.7 million people) have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 86% are fully vaccinated. Regional disparities remain, however: 68% of the adult Brussels population is fully vaccinated, while this proportion rises to 81% in Wallonia and 92% in Flanders.
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