First wave coronavirus death toll tops 10,000, 60% were living in care homes

Over 10,000 people died of coronavirus in the Netherlands during the first wave, national statistics agency CBS said on Thursday.

The official death toll – based on people who had been tested for the virus – was around 6,100 up to the end of June, and the CBS said earlier the real figure was likely to be around 10,000, based on excess death rates.

The agency has now confirmed that figure, based on death certificates which had been completed by a doctor. In total, 10,067 died from coronavirus up to the end of June, of whom 53% were male, and nearly all were over the age of 75, the CBS said.

Some 60% of the victims were living in long-term care homes, either because they were very elderly, had chronic health conditions or were disabled.

The CBS figures, which are still preliminary, also show there was little change in the number of people dying from cancer, heart problems and other diseases during the four months from March to the end of June.