A woman, wearing a face mask to prevent the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19, walks along Cinquantenaire park in an autumn day in Brussels, Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo stopped short Friday of imposing another full lockdown, as the country did in March, but introduced a series of new restrictive measures as the number of COVID-19 related hospital admissions and deaths continue to soar. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Authorities warned Monday that Belgium faces a pivotal week in its struggle to limit the spread of the coronavirus, as a series of new restrictions took effect in one of the European countries hardest hit by the pandemic.

Almost 12,500 new cases are being reported on average every 24 hours, figures released Monday for the week from Oct. 16-22 showed, compared to around 5,000 a day two weeks ago. About one person in every five who is tested turns out to be positive. The very elderly are hardest hit.

On average over the last week, 42 people died from the virus each day, bringing the to 10,810 in a country with a population of around 11.5 million people.

Pressure is building on Belgium's hospitals, where 467 people are being admitted on average each day, a rise of 85%. Almost 5,000 people are currently in hospitals, more than 750 of them in , according to the latest data.

"What we do now, what we will do in the next two weeks, will be decisive," said Yves Van Laethem, a spokesman for Belgium's COVID-19 crisis center. If the figures don't change, he said, "we are likely to reach 2,000 patients in intensive care in two weeks. That is, our maximum capacity."

New measures announced by Belgium's were implemented Monday, but the tightening of restrictions until Nov. 19, mainly in the cultural and sports sectors, were considered inadequate by two of Belgium's three regions.

A street musician plays a saxophone at Mont des Art square during an autumn evening prior to the curfew in Brussels, Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

The French-speaking region of Wallonia and the Brussels capital region extended a night-time curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. In Brussels, masks must be worn outdoors at all times, while cinemas, theaters and sports centers were ordered to close. People must work from home when possible.

Fears about a return to a full lockdown are rife.

"Things are evolving every day. It's not impossible that in a few days I assemble the Walloon government to take extra measures. I don't know for sure yet, but I can't rule it out," Wallonia Minister-President Elio Di Rupo told state broadcaster RTBF.

"We're trying to find a balance," Di Rupo said. "'We don't want to shut down society altogether."

Next week's school vacation has been extended, with in Wallonia and Brussels working from home as of this Wednesday. Students in Flanders will have two extra days off after what normally would have been the end of the vacation period.

  • Passers-by, wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, walk past a clock installed at the La Bourse, former stock exchange, building during an autumn evening prior to the curfew in downtown Brussels, Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

  • A couple wearing wedding outfits pose for photos at Cinquantenaire park in an autumn day in Brussels, Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo stopped short Friday of imposing another full lockdown, as the country did in March, but introduced a series of new restrictive measures as the number of COVID-19 related hospital admissions and deaths continue to soar. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Van Laethem urged people take some time out with their children, walk in the forest, go shopping now and then—but only alone as rules in some parts of the country require—start on some DYI projects at home or listen to their favorite music.

"You don't have to live like monks," he said, but "it's now or never to discover your personal pause button."

© 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.