Coronavirus cases continue rising in Belgium

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) – More than 1,400 new coronavirus cases were diagnosed in Belgium and 132 people lost their lives in the past 24 hours, health authorities announced on Friday.

The latest data by the Federal Public Service of Health brought the total number of infections to 16,770, and the death toll to 1,143 since March 15.

Some 5,500 patients are currently treated at hospitals, with 1,205 of them being treated at intensive care units. 45% of intensive care beds are still available.

So far, more than 2,800 people were discharged from healthcare facilities after treatment.

Six out of 10 coronavirus patients are from the northern region of Flanders.

The federal government led by Sophie Wilmes imposed a lockdown on public life two weeks ago.

The measures allow people to leave their homes only for buying food and medicine, visiting a doctor, helping someone in need or going to work if home office is not an option for them.

Only supermarkets and pharmacies can stay open, snack bars and restaurants can only offer food for takeaway.

According to the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University's Coronavirus Resource Center, more than 1,030,000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed worldwide, with over 54,000 deaths and nearly 219,000 recoveries.