Downward trend in new COVID-19 cases continues in Belgium

Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-19 22:16:47|Editor: huaxia

BRUSSELS, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Belgium recorded 232 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, confirming the downward trajectory observed for more than seven days, reported a statement released Tuesday by the public health institute Sciensano.

In the same 24-hour period, 50 new hospitalizations have been recorded and 30 healed people have left hospitals. A total of 345 patients are currently in intensive care, up by 3 from a day earlier.

The death toll rose by 29, bringing the total to 9,108 since the beginning of the epidemic. To date, Belgium has recorded 55,791 COVID-19 cases.

People around the world are currently waiting for a coronavirus vaccine to return to normal life as soon as possible. But according to Belgian virologist Johan Neyts, a researcher at the KU Leuven, "it won't be like that."

The Belgian daily Het Laatste Nieuws quoted Neyts as saying, "research on the vaccine will be rapid. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the first doses will be available in late spring 2021. (But) It is impossible to produce vaccines for the entire world population in just a few months." Enditem

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