BRUSSELS, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Belgium has recorded 339 new deaths of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the country's total tally to 8,339, the public health institute Sciensano confirmed on Wednesday.
Sciensano explained that 229 deaths in recent weeks were added to the 110 deaths over the past 24 hours on May 5, leading to the increase in the daily toll.
In the last 24 hours, 272 new infections of COVID-19 have been confirmed, bringing the total infection cases to 50,781 since the beginning of the pandemic. Meanwhile, 116 new hospitalizations have been confirmed, and 290 were discharged from hospitals.
Belgium has a total of 2,849 hospitalized patients, 233 fewer than May 4, including 646 patients in intensive care units.
In the general opinion of Sciensano's experts, the trend is towards an overall decrease throughout Belgium. The epidemiological evolution of COVID-19 remains favorable.
The National Security Council of Belgium (NSC) will meet on Wednesday to decide on further relaxation of measures against the coronavirus.
The NSC involves the federal government and the Minister-Presidents of the Communities and Regions as well as representatives of various services and health experts. On April 24, the NSC set up a strategy of gradual deconfinement. Enditem
