Belgium should expect a new wave of Covid-19 in mid-October, according to scientific models, indicates the Public Health Institute Sciensano in its bulletin published on Friday. The consequences of this wave (number of contaminations, hospitalizations, etc.) will depend on the fall vaccination coverage.
Between September 16 and 22, an average of 58 people infected with the coronavirus were hospitalized each day (+4% compared to the previous seven days). Currently, 731 coronavirus-positive people are being treated in hospital (+3%), including 51 patients treated in intensive care (-9%). Infections are also on the rise. Between September 13 and 19, 1,947 new cases were detected on average per day, an increase of 17% compared to the previous week. The positivity rate remains stable (19.6%) while the number of screenings continues to increase, with some 10,245 tests carried out daily. Since September 12, fall vaccination, which has “started well” thanks to a “excellent adherence rate during the first week of vaccination, especially in Flanders”notes virologist Yves Van Laethem, “will be our main weapon in the fight once morest Covid-19 over the coming months”.
It is particularly important that people over 50, health professionals and people with reduced immunity receive a fall vaccine before the new wave arrives, notes Sciensano, referring to the conclusions of the Superior Council of health. The other adults also have the possibility of being administered a fall vaccine, recalls the institute. By September 20, more than 1.3 million people had received a second booster (14% of the adult population). This rate was higher in Flanders (19%) than in Wallonia (8%) and Brussels (6%), in particular because the north of the country had already chosen to actively invite, before the summer, people from over 80s and residents of rest (and care) homes to be given a second booster, says Sciensano.
