Belgium: Average number of COVID-19 deaths at its lowest since Oct 2021, reveals data

The average number of Covid-19 deaths is at its lowest point since the start of October 2021, while the number of new cases and hospitalisations resulting from the virus continues to decline.

Between 7 and 13 May, an average of 8.9 patients suffering from Covid-19 died on a daily basis, down by 42% from the previous week, according to figures published by the Sciensano Institute of Public Health on Tuesday morning.

The overall number of deaths in Belgium since the beginning of the pandemic amounts to 31,656. This figure includes people who died of another cause of death, but who happened to be infected, meaning there may be an overestimate of Covid-19 deaths caused by the virus.

During the same week, an average of 3,701 new daily Covid-19 infections were identified, a 16% drop from the previous seven days, and the lowest since mid-October last year.

The positivity rate now sits at 22%, meaning slightly more than one in five tests have a positive result. The highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19, Omicron BA.2, now accounts for 98.1% of all cases.

Between 10 and 16 May, an average of 101.9 patients suffering from Covid-19 were admitted to hospitals each day — down 19% from the last seven days.

This data shows the number of hospitalised directly because of the virus, not those who are admitted with another condition and then test positive for Covid-19.

On Monday, a total of 1,513 people were in Belgian hospitals due to an infection, some 300 fewer than the same day last week, and the lowest since the end of October.

At the same time, the number of people being treated in intensive care sits at 106. The number of patients in intensive care(ICU) has remained below 200 since 9 March. This number counts all patients who tested positive for Covid-19, including those who were first admitted with a different condition.