Daily coronavirus cases dropped to their lowest level since the start of December on Monday.

The public health agency RIVM reported 5,499 new cases in the 24 hours to 10am, more than 1,000 fewer than on Sunday and 16.2% lower than a week ago. On average cases have fallen by 11.8% a day in the last week.

The number of patients in hospital increased by 67 to 2,628, while 702 patients are in intensive care – a number which has hovered around the 700 mark since the turn of the year.

Another 50 deaths from Covid-19 were reported by the RIVM, compared to a weekly average of 106. The spread of the virus in nursing homes also appears to be slowing, with 852 facilities reporting at least one case in the last seven days compared to 839 a week ago.

In the three days to January 7 12.5% of coronavirus tests were positive, slightly fewer than in recent weeks. The World Health Organisation says countries should be aiming to reduce their positive test rate to below 5%.