The number of newly registered coronavirus infections in the Netherlands fell by almost 1,000 in the 24 hours to Monday morning, according to new figures published by public health institute RIVM.

In total, the RIVM was notified of 4,709 positive tests overnight, a drop of 987 on Sunday’s figure, which was also down sharply.

More people were admitted to hospital – 177 in total – and the number of people being treated in hospital rose by 22 to 2,317. Of them, 600 are in intensive care units, up two on Sunday.

A further 40 patients have died. Over the past seven days, an average of 83 people have died from coronavirus on a daily basis, compared with 56 in the week-earlier period. However, deaths are often reported days or even weeks later than the actual occurrence.

Meanwhile, sources in The Hague have told broadcaster NOS that the cabinet is unlikely to now impose additional measures, such as a curfew, on the Rotterdam, Dordrecht and Twente areas because of downturn in the infection rate.

In all three regions, the number of new infections has halved from around 100 per 100,000 of the population at the end of October to 50, and this is enough to halt the threat of extra measures, the sources said.

Regional safety board officials are due to meet on Monday evening and on Tuesday ministers will discuss progress before taking a final decision.

Partial lockdown

Last Tuesday the government announced a two-week period of extra measures, including museum and amusement park closures, in an effort to give the drop in reported cases a further impulse.

In mid October, when the number of new cases were nearing 10,000 a day, the government introduced what it called a ‘partial lockdown’, closing cafes and restaurants until mid December, cutting group sizes and upping hygiene regulations in shops.