The number of new coronavirus cases registered with public health institute RIVM reached 13,066 in the 24 hours to Sunday morning, the institute said in a daily update.

This is the highest daily figure since the start of the second wave, and is higher than the 10,823 daily average recorded over the past seven days.

The number of coronavirus patients being treated in hospital has also risen to 2,113, of whom 580 people are being treated in an intensive care unit. This means more patients are being admitted than discharged from hospital.

The increase in positive test results comes on the day that the Netherlands took the lead in banning flights from the UK in an effort to stop a more infectious variant of the virus taking hold.

One case of the new virus, said to be up to 70% more infectious, was identified in the Netherlands at the beginning of the month but the variant is now widespread in southern parts of England.

Health minister Hugo de Jonge said on Sunday that the new variety of the virus is worrying but no reason to panic and there is no reason to further tighten the rules at present.

Officials are looking at extending the travel ban to ferry, train and car traffic but that is more complicated to organise, De Jonge said. There have been talks on a blanket ban with other EU leaders, he said.