All Belgian corona figures continue to rise, although the increase is less strong. The National Crisis Center reports on Friday’s press conference. ‘I still recommend disinfecting shopping carts,’ explains virologist Steven Van Gucht. ‘Even if we mainly spread the virus by air, there are sufficient reasons for this.’
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The figures continue to rise, virologist Steven Van Gucht confirms at the Sciensano press conference on Friday. In the past week, an average of 1,470 new infections diagnosed with the coronavirus, at two peak times with nearly 2,000 new cases in one day. The numbers were up 48 percent week from the week before. “But the increase is less pronounced than a few days ago,” explains Van Gucht. While the numbers doubled every seven or eight days a few days ago, it is now every 12 days.
The increases are occurring at all age groups, but the focus is clearly on the young people, ‘says Van Gucht. Half of the infections occur in people younger than 33 years. The National Crisis Center therefore asks young people to be extra vigilant with vulnerable people and to keep their distance from the elderly. The number of infections has doubled in people over 70, a worrying development. Somewhat reassuringly, however, is the delay in the increase among teenagers.
The number of infections is increasing in all provinces, except in Limburg. ‘There was even a slight decrease there,’ says Van Gucht. Brussels is still in the lead with an average of 316 new cases diagnosed each day in the past week, an increase of 49 percent from the week before. With more than 9 percent, the positivity ratio, the number of positive cases compared to the number of tests administered, is also the highest. For reference, the ratio is twice as high as the Belgian average. The province of Antwerp has the second highest number of new cases with an average of 267 new infections per day, an increase of 48 percent.
‘Hospital admissions are rising faster than infections’
Less good news about the number hospital admissions: they are rising faster than the number of infections, reports The National Crisis Center. Yesterday, 84 people were admitted, “a number that has not been seen since the beginning,” says Van Gucht. The density of the recordings varies greatly geographically: one third of the number of recordings took place in Brussels, followed by East Flanders, Liège and Antwerp. Earlier today it was announced that the hospitals are therefore implementing a spreading plan.
Since a few days there has also been a slight increase in the number passing aways: covid-19 is now fatal for an average of 3.6 people per day. A week earlier, that number was 2.7. Most deaths occur in Flanders.
What about shortened quarantine duration?
Following Wednesday’s National Security Council, Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès announced a shortening of the quarantine period: from 14 days to seven days. Virologist Steven Van Gucht explains this decision: ‘The new rule is a compromise between what is scientifically desirable and what is socially feasible.’ To have extra certainty, it is crucial not to take the test until day five of the quarantine period. If you are in isolation after a positive test, your isolation period may be longer than seven days. The new rules will take effect from October 1.
• Read the detailed explanation of the quarantine measures here
Quarantine rules at school
The Crisis Center also clarified quarantine procedures in education. “Since children are not the main propagators of covid-19, and because it is extremely important that they can go to school, exceptional rules apply there,” said Van Gucht.
Crèches:
• Respiratory tract infections are usually harmless for children under six. The risk of covid-19 is very small and a sick child does not necessarily have an impact on the other children.
• When the teacher is ill, a test must be performed. If it is positive, the whole class must be quarantined.
Primary education:
• When a child tests positive, this still counts as a low-risk contact.
• Even a positive tested teacher is a low-risk contact, because it is easier to keep a distance from the child in primary education than in crèches.
High school:
• The same rules apply to secondary school students as to adults. When there was a contact that lasted longer than fifteen minutes with an infected person, this is considered a high-risk contact. So close friends and a neighbor in the class are a high-risk contact and start a seven-day quarantine.
If the virus has nevertheless spread at school, for example with more than one infection in the classroom, then after analysis, the daycare center or school can still be closed.
New rules only apply from October 1. Small daily actions that make the biggest difference.
What about shopping carts?
At the end of the press conference, the question arose whether it still makes sense to disinfect shopping carts, in the knowledge that the virus mainly spreads through droplets in the air and when we do wear face masks in the store. Van Gucht was categorical about this: “This remains useful.”
‘It is true that contamination via surfaces occurs less frequently than originally thought’, explains Van Gucht, ‘but this could also be due to our own behavior. We pay more attention to what we touch and disinfect our hands more regularly. That can have an impact on the figures. Moreover, contact between hands and the face remains an important entry point for the virus. ‘ The Crisis Center therefore concludes that disinfection of frequently touched surfaces and shopping trolleys is still highly recommended.
Finally, spokesman Yves Stevens had a few encouraging words with regard to the end-of-year period: ‘We then traditionally wish each other good health. So let’s act on it and adjust our behavior. Make these wishes come true. ‘ He also pointed out that we only got the virus down in March, April and May thanks to a high sense of togetherness. The six golden rules remain undeniable:
Wash your hands
2. Keep your distance
3. Limit close contacts
4. Preferably do your activities outside
5. Be vigilant around vulnerable people
6. Follow the rules about meetings
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