Belgium braced for ‘tsunami’ of Covid cases as deaths double each week and minister admits ‘we’ve lost control’

A CORONAVIRUS "tsunami" is approaching Belgium, the country's health minister has warned.

Frank Vandenbroucke warned that Belgium had “lost control” of the virus after reporting almost 11,000 new cases yesterday and deaths in the country have doubled in a week.

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The minister told broadcaster RTL that the health situations in Brussels and Wallonia are the "most dangerous in all of Europe".

A report published by the Belgian public health institute Sciensano revealed that cases have increased by 88 per cent over the last week, with deaths up 85 per cent in a week.

The country has an infection rate of 605 cases per 100,000 over the last 14 days, which is second only to the Czech Republic which has 771, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

There has been a 133 per cent weekly increase in deaths in care homes.

Hospital admissions have nearly doubled. Mr Vandenbroucke stressed that health care that is unrelated to Covid-19 will increasingly need to be postponed.

The number of patients in intensive care, which stood at 412 on Sunday, is doubling every eight to nine days and reportedly half of those are on ventilation.

Health ministry spokesman Yves Van Laethem warned that the number of patients will rise above 500 this week.

"Whatever the impact of the measures, we will have 1,000 patients in intensive care by the end of this month," he said.

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo warned: "The situation is serious. Its worse than on March 18 when the lockdown was decided."

The stark health warning comes after the decision was made to close all bars and cafes in Brussels after Covid-19 cases rose by 50 per cent.

The capital recorded 3,571 positive tests in the week up to October 4, up from 2,391 the previous week.

Bars will be closed in Belgium's largest city until November 8 but restaurants will be allowed to remain open if they can serve food at tables.

A series of new measures will be enforced nationwide from Tuesday.

Bars are to close by 11pm, and no more than four people can congregate socially in a home, at a table in a cafe, or outside.

Events venues will also be forced to close and people will be barred from attending sports venues to spectate on amateur sports.

Regional governments have also been given the power to introduce stricter measures if they choose.

Countries across Europe have seen coronavirus cases begin to rise in recent months after easing restrictions.

Last week, the Spanish government introduced a 15-day state of emergency to bring down rates of infections in Madrid.

The Netherlands closed bars on October 13 and a day later, French president Emmanuel Macron ordered a nightly curfew in Paris and eight other big cities where coronavirus is rampant.

The country's five largest cities are on "maximum alert level", with bars and restaurants closed.

The rules came into force on Saturday and hospitality venues are banned from opening between 9pm and 6am.

In Italy, prime minister Giuseppe Conte gave mayors local powers to shut public squares from 9pm. A maximum of six people will be allowed to sit together at restaurants and bars and table service will be mandatory after 6pm.

The Swiss government announced yesterday that masks would be mandatory and large public gatherings would also be banned.

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