After weeks of very high death rates, the number of deaths from corona is now also suddenly dropping sharply. On average, 20 people die every day, of which 1 in 3 is between 65 and 75 years old.
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Despite the fact that the number of corona infections has been declining for some time, deaths have remained relatively high in recent weeks. During the whole of April to the beginning of May this was an average of about 270 per week.
“We are finally seeing a striking drop in the number of deaths,” said virologist Steven Van Gucht (Sciensano) Friday.
On average, 20 people are still dying a day. ” Or in weekly figures: this week the number of deaths would remain around 70. “Compared to last week, that is a decrease of 43 percent.” Deaths now mainly occur in the 65-75 age group.
Danger zone
“Half of the people who die are now younger than 75 years,” says Van Gucht. As a result of the vaccination campaign – which has now been fully completed among the very oldest – the number of over-75s dying from the consequences of the corona virus has fallen sharply compared to the past.
Van Gucht – who confirmed on Friday that the hospital figures are still going in the right direction – warned at the same time that we are not yet out of the danger zone. “There is still a lot of virus circulating, and we see a rejuvenation in the infections.”
Daily figures are increasing
For example, in recent days there was a striking “outlier”, according to Van Gucht, in the number of infections among 17-year-olds. To such an extent that the daily figures, in terms of the number of established infections, are increasing again.
The coming days will therefore have to show how the corona epidemic in our country is evolving, especially in the light of the further easing that will take effect in more than 2 weeks.
Several experts have not hid in recent days that they are somewhat concerned about the many easing plans to come, at a time when many people – think of the parents of those 17-year-olds – have not yet been vaccinated.
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