Belgium's COVID-19 infections more than doubled to 109

BRUSSELS: Belgium has detected 59 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of the infection in the country to 109, more than doubled the number announced on Thursday, according to a press release issued by the Federal Public Health Service on Friday.

Out of a total of 441 samples taken on Thursday, 59 tested positive for coronavirus, said the press release.

According to geographical distribution, 65 coronavirus patients reside in Flanders, 12 in Brussels and 31 in Wallonia. To date, only one COVID-19 patient has recovered completely.

This number is likely to increase in the coming days, according to the Federal Public Health Service.



Most coronavirus patients have recently travelled to Italy, which is hit hardest by the epidemic in Europe. The Federal Public Health Service also finds "contamination within Belgium."

The Foreign Ministry has recommended that schools postpone their school trips to Italy.

Belgium detected the first case of the novel coronavrius infection in early February, when one of the nine returnees from Wuhan, China, tested positive for the virus.

The Belgian was discharged from the Saint-Pierre Hospital in Brussels on February 15 after tests turned negative.