Coronavirus cases drop below 7,000 but no let-up in hospitals

The number of new coronavirus infections dropped below 7,000 for the first time in nearly four weeks – but the downward trend is not yet being seen in hospitals.

The public health agency RIVM reported 6,671 cases in the 24 hours to 10am, nearly 10% fewer than last Monday, when the numbers were affected by data processing issues. In the last seven days numbers have declined by an average of 17% week-on-week.

However, the number of Covid-19 patients in hospital climbed to 2,845, an increase of 135 since Sunday, with the number in intensive care rising from 704 to 715. Both figures are at their highest level since April.

The virus is also continuing to spread through nursing homes, with 844 institutions reporting at least one new infection in the last two weeks. That figure is higher than at the peak of the first wave on April 15, when 828 nursing homes reported recent infections.

Another 65 people were reported to have died after contracting the virus, against an average for the last week of 91.