BRUSSELS

More than 680 people per day tested positive for coronavirus in Belgium over the past week, health authorities said Monday.

New infections per day increased by 42% over the 7-day period, compared to 470 new cases per day the previous week, according to the latest figures by Sciensano, the national public health institute.

As many as 93,455 people have been infected with the novel virus since the outbreak in the country of 11.5 million people. A total of 9,925 people have also lost their lives.

Some 291 COVID-19 patients are being treated in hospitals across Belgium, with 71 of them in intensive care units.

Belgium saw peak in virus cases in April. It gradually lifted some restrictions in early May after the numbers declined due to a lockdown.

After the holiday season, however, infections started to rise again -- as in the case of other European countries.

* Writing by Iclal Turan in Ankara