Belgium’s weekly average of new infections rose by 62% compared to the previous week -- with 566 cases recorded this past Monday, July 27, health authorities announced in a press conference on Friday, CNN reports.

On average, 371 people a day are testing positive for Covid-19 and 24 people a day are being admitted to hospital.

“This rise was of course expected," according to Frederique Jacobs, head of the Infectious Diseases Department at Université Libre de Bruxelles, Erasme Hospital.

The numbers were announced amid continuing fears of a second wave of coronavirus in Europe. Several countries have imposed travel restrictions on travelers arriving from Belgium.