Coronavirus death toll rises to 7,594 in Belgium

The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed a total of 7,594 lives in Belgium after 111 new deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours, the public health institute Sciensano confirmed on Thursday.

The same period saw 660 news cases, bringing the total to 48,519 since the pandemic hit the country, said Sciensano in its daily bulletin.

A total of 178 people were hospitalized in the last 24 hours, while 293 patients have left hospitals, said Sciensano.

The number of hospitalizations dropped by 124 to 3,609, and patients in intensive care units edged down by 28 to 769, added Scienano.

Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes on Friday announced the gradual de-confinement measures in three phases.

The first phase of de-confinement (Phase 1A) will begin on Monday. One of the measures is the compulsory wearing of masks in public spaces and on public transport.

Belgium detected its first case in early February, when one of the nine returnees from Wuhan, China, tested positive. The Belgian was discharged from the Saint-Pierre Hospital in Brussels on Feb. 15 after tests turned negative.