In Belgium capital Brussels leading scientists gather daily to announce the current state of the coronavirus in the country. And the data is grim. Although there are only 11 million people, the country has reported more deaths from the disease than China. With 55 deaths per 100,000 residents, the city has the highest death rate per capita in the world – four times higher than in the United States.

Officials in the country say the cause of the appalling data is not overcrowded hospitals – 43% of intensive care beds are free even in the midst of a crisis, but bureaucratic rigor in reporting data.

Unlike many other countries, the home of the institutions of the European Union records deaths in nursing homes, even if no infection is confirmed.

“We often get criticism that our data makes the situation in Belgium pretty grim, but we think the opposite is true”, explains Steven Van Gucht, head of the viral diseases department at Sciensano Public Health Institute and chairman of the Belgian National Science Board against the coronavirus. He adds that if comparisons are to be made with other countries, the figures for Belgium should be halved.

As of today, Belgium has 46,134 confirmed infections and 7,094 deaths.