COVID-19 cases spike in Belgium; govt poised for action

BRUSSELS (AP) — Coronavirus infections and hospitalizations are shooting upward in Belgium, pushing the government to consider reimposing some pandemic restrictions that it only relaxed a few weeks ago. Daily infections in the nation of 11 million increased 75% to reach 5,299 daily cases last week. Hospitalizations have increased 69%.  The government and regional officials are to decide later Tuesday whether to boost restrictions again, although stopping well short of going into a lockdown. Indications are that authorities are looking at making face masks mandatory in more places and having residents use virus passports. A complicating factor has emerged in the high virus transmission rate in Belgium’s primary schools.