Coronavirus infections close to 10,000, fewer patients in hospital
‘Keep Grandma out of intensive care’. Photo: DutchNews.nl
New coronavirus cases in the Netherlands reached their highest level for almost two weeks on Thursday as 9,737 new positive tests were recorded by the public health agency RIVM.
Another 231 Covid-19 patients were admitted to hospital but the total number fell by 71 to 2,764. Of these 712 are receiving treatment in intensive care, an increase of eight since Wednesday.
The figures will increase the pressure on the cabinet to extend the national lockdown beyond January 19, as ministers have said that the rules can only be relaxed once the number of patients being admitted to intensive care per day falls to around 10. On Thursday 29 people were admitted or transferred to an ICU.