Antwerp epicentre of latest coronavirus outbreak in Belgium

Authorities in the Belgian city of Antwerp have issued an urgent appeal to people to obey new local lockdown restrictions.

The measures were announced Monday after the city became Belgium's latest coronavirus hotspot.

New cases in Belgium rose 71% last week, with almost half of them in the Antwerp region.

The new restrictions include a curfew from 11.30pm to 6am.

Cafes and restaurants now have to close at 11pm.

The governor of Antwerp province, Cathy Berx, has asked people to either stay in the city or stay out of it.

Belgium has reported more than 66,000 coronavirus deaths.

But its death rate compared with the size of its population is one of the highest in the world.