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Coronavirus: Six new cases in Belgium, all from northern Italy

11:20 02/03/2020

Belgian authorities have confirmed six new cases of coronavirus. The newly infected people had all returned to Belgium from travelling in northern Italy.

"Today is the start of a crucial week, with the consequences of people returning from holidays," federal health minister Maggie De Block told a news conference on Monday.

Public health authorities will now determine who the infected people have been in contact with since their return to Belgium. These people will be tested.

The six people all tested positive for coronavirus over the weekend. At least one of them is in Brussels, and is staying in isolation at home after an initial consultation at Saint-Pierre hospital.

The new cases bring the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Belgium to eight - six from northern Italy.

A woman who returned from a business trip in northern France is being treated at Antwerp university hospital. Another man, who was repatriated from Wuhan last month, has made a full recovery.

Belgian prime minister Sophie Wilmès held a meeting on Monday morning with federal ministers and the minister-presidents of each Belgian region to discuss how best to coordinate the prevention of the coronavirus spread.

Written by The Bulletin