The number of Belgians admitted to hospitals with the coronavirus seems to have stabilized in recent days. That said the Flemish virologist Steven Van Gucht on Saturday during the daily update of the Belgian National Crisis Center and the federal public service FPS Public Health. In recent days, the number of hospital admissions in Belgium has always been between five and six hundred.
As of Friday, 503 new patients with the COVID-19 virus have been admitted to Belgian hospitals. That is less than the past three days. According to Van Gucht, this is good news, although it remains a high number.
A total of 5,678 patients are now hospitalized, 1,245 of whom are in intensive care. 985 patients are currently ventilated.
In the past 24 hours, 375 corona patients were able to leave the hospital. Since the outbreak of the virus, 3,247 people have been released from hospital in Belgium.
The number of deaths in Belgium increased by 140 to 1,283 on Saturday. That is slightly more than Friday when 132 deaths were reported.
Effect measures visible soon
According to Van Gucht, the measures taken in Belgium to combat the virus have an effect. However, this effect will only become visible in the figures over time. “People who die have often become infected with the virus two weeks or more ago,” says the virologist. The effects are only visible after that time.
The total number of confirmed infections in Belgium increased by 1,661 to 18,431 in the past 24 hours. Just like in the Netherlands, the actual number of infections is higher, because not everyone is tested with symptoms.
Follow the latest developments around the virus in our live blog.
The coronavirus in short
- The coronavirus mainly spreads from person to person via sneezing and cough drops. The chance of becoming infected through surfaces such as door handles is small. This chance decreases if you wash your hands often.
- You can considerably reduce the chance of spreading by keeping at least 1.5 meters away from others.
- The corona measures have resulted in an infected person infecting less than one other person on average. Previously, this so-called reproduction number was between two and three.
- The vast majority of patients have mild (flu-like) complaints.
- Almost all deaths involve the elderly or other vulnerable persons, such as heart, lung or diabetes patients. If everyone complies with the measures, this reduces their risks.
- Read here what precautions you should take.
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