On Friday June 18th, the European European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reassessed the risk level for Belgium and changed its risk color from red to orange. The change means that the incidence rate has gone below 200. According to the national health institute, Sciensano, the country currently has had an incidence rate of 76 confirmed cases per 100,000 over the past two weeks. If the trend continues in the same direction, there’s a strong belief by some experts that the ECDC will move the country to “green” before the start of the summer holidays.
Over the past week, an average of 450 new infections per day was detected, which is a 44% drop per week, meaning the number of confirmed cases halve every eight days, according to virologist and federal Covid-19 spokesperson Steven Van Gucht.
At this rate, Belgium will reach an incidence of fewer than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants by 28 June, which means that Belgium could be green on the European map at the start of the summer holidays
Steven Van Gucht, virologist and federal Covid-19 spokesperson
According to the Brussels Times, the decrease has been observed in all age categories, but has been more noticeable among children and teenagers all provinces, where the incidence is below 100 infections per 100,000 inhabitants, the exception being the Brussels-Capital Region.
In all provinces, the incidence is currently below 100 infections per 100,000 inhabitants, except in the Brussels-Capital Region still has the highest number of infections, proportionally
Steven Van Gucht, virologist and federal Covid-19 spokesperson
The virologist underlined that caution is still much needed as variants are appearing in different parts of Europe. The UK and Portugal have recorded several cases of the Indian or Delta variant, which has prompted actions in those countries and restrictions for people coming from the particular areas affected.
The Brussels Times reported that as of Tuesday 22nd of June, 68,6% of the adult population has received its first vaccination or 54,9% of the total population. 38,2% of adults have been fully vaccinated, which represents roughly 30% of the total.
