The Netherlands recorded 19% more coronavirus infections in the past week than the week before, the country’s National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) reported.
In total, 29,977 people tested positive in the Netherlands over the past week.
The figures were published at a time when the Dutch government is expected to announce several relaxations in the coming hours.
The Netherlands is in a "vulnerable position,” the RIVM noted. "If the measures are relaxed too quickly, the number of infections, and therefore the number of hospital admissions, will increase again," the institute warned.
Last week, 263,291 people were tested, 38% more than a week earlier. Of these, 9.8% tested positive for Covid-19. One week earlier, 11.5% of the tests were positive.
The increase was relatively higher among children aged 0 to 12 years.
"This may be related to the reopening of primary schools and nurseries two weeks earlier, in combination with the strengthening of the screening policy: even with mild symptoms, these children need to be tested," the RIVM explained.
In absolute numbers, the youngest age group is still the one with the lowest number of infections.
The Brussels Times
