At the daily press conference, 170 new deaths were reported in the past 24 hours on Tuesday, 89 of them in hospital and 80 in residential care centers. But a new study was also referred to, which shows that 1 in 2 infections happens before any symptom occurs.
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The number of new deaths on Tuesday is slightly higher than Monday, when 168 new deaths were counted. The total death toll in Belgium is now 5,998. In the past 24 hours, 172 people with Covid-19 were admitted to hospitals, but 107 patients were also discharged. As a result, a total of 4,976 people are now hospitalized with Covid-19. Of these, 1,079 are in intensive care and 777 need respiratory support.
Virologist Steven Van Gucht also referred during the press conference to a new study, which was published in the renowned science magazine Nature medicine. “The researchers have asked themselves how people still infect each other in a lockdown situation? So: in a frame where they keep their distance from each other. Their conclusion was interesting ”, says Van Gucht. “That was because within that lockdown context, 44 percent of infections occur before symptoms occur. In 56 percent, the infection was caused by people who were already sick. So on average, one in two infections takes place before symptoms show up. ”
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In those who already show symptoms of disease, there is also a difference in infectivity. “The researchers were able to demonstrate that the infectivity is greatest at the beginning of the disease,” says Van Gucht. “So it is very important that as soon as we feel a little sick, have a sore throat or a mild cough, we immediately decide to isolate ourselves. So to stay at home. Because that’s when we can infect other people the most. ”
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It is somewhat more difficult with the infections that take place before the symptoms occur. “Contact tracing is an important tactic. If people can find out, through the doctor or someone else, that they have had contact with someone who may be infected with corona, they should isolate themselves at home beforehand. This is the only way we can keep the virus in its dorm. ”
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