Coronavirus is alive again, as predicted: ‘Oeteldonk’ absolute frontrunner

Yesterday 58,301 infections were added in the Netherlands. In the past seven days, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has registered 300,827 positive tests, an average of 42,976 per day. The average is 15.5 percent higher than a week ago. For the first time in nearly three weeks, the weekly average has risen. Carnival celebrators, returning winter sports enthusiasts and the large-scale corona relaxation seem to be the cause of the increase.

The government has already taken into account that the relaxation of the corona rules could lead to a new revival of the corona virus. That is why risk groups will receive a booster shot again from Friday.

Amsterdam has the most positive tests in absolute terms. In the capital, the corona virus has been found in 2741 people. Relatively speaking, however, it is the municipalities in Brabant and Limburg that count the most infections. ‘s-Hertogenbosch takes the cake with 1747 infections. Converted, more than 1.1 percent of the residents of Bosch tested positive in the past 24 hours. This is undoubtedly the result of the past carnival weekend, in which the city traditionally goes through life as Oeteldonk.

Also in the neighboring municipality of Sint-Michielsgestel, more than 1 percent of the residents tested positive. Many other congregations in the south are heading in that direction. In comparison: in a city like Rotterdam less than 0.2 percent tested positive, in Amsterdam about 0.3 percent. 

RIVM received a message in the past day that ten people have died as a result of their corona infection. Among them are two residents of Rotterdam. The municipalities of The Hague, Eindhoven, Nijmegen, Berg en Dal, Hellendoorn, Steenwijkerland, Son en Breugel and De Bilt each had a report of a death. The fact that the deaths of these people have now been reported does not mean that they have died in the past day.

In the past week, RIVM registered sixty deaths from corona, an average of eight to nine per day. The death rate has hovered around that level for the past week.

The number of corona patients in the intensive care units of Dutch hospitals has fallen below 150 for the first time since October last year. There are currently 147 patients with corona on an IC, according to the most recent figures from the National Coordination Center for Patients Spreading (LCPS).

It is now eight patients less than 24 hours ago. Ten new patients with corona were admitted to an IC, but because more people died or were allowed to leave the wards, the occupation fell. In total, there are still 1,391 people with a corona infection in hospitals. That is a decrease of twenty patients compared to Thursday.

There are currently 1,244 corona patients in the nursing wards, twelve fewer than 24 hours ago. 153 new people with a corona infection were admitted, but because even more patients left the wards, the occupancy still fell.

The LCPS does not distinguish between patients who have been admitted because of their corona infection and people who are in hospital for something else, but who also happened to be infected. The coordination center emphasizes that it does not matter for the pressure on hospital care who is in hospital with or because of corona. All patients with corona have to be nursed in isolation, which takes a lot of extra time.

Belgium will also cancel almost all remaining corona measures on Monday. For access to the catering industry, concerts, discotheques or cinema, the corona pass can remain in your pocket. The closing hours for nightclubs and cafes will disappear and a mask will only have to be worn in public transport, hospitals and nursing homes.

Restrictions on the capacity of theaters and events are abolished. The catering staff no longer has to wear a mouth cap, and neither do secondary school students. An FFP2 mask is still recommended for medically vulnerable people, both indoors and outdoors. Indoors, the use of a CO2 meter and an air purification action plan remains mandatory. This also applies to closed tents or covered terraces.