Belgium’s death toll from coronavirus infections, one of the highest per capita in the world, has breached the 20,000 mark, according to official data.

Public health institute Sciensano said 20,038 people have died in Belgium, according to the official count. An average of 58 people in Belgium died from Covid-19 each day in the seven days to Jan 6, a decrease of 15 per cent from the previous seven-day period.

Belgium is the second-highest in the world for deaths in proportion to its overall population, behind the tiny city state of San Marino, according to a tracker by Johns Hopkins University.