More than 5,000 new coronavirus infections were reported by the public health agency RIVM on Wednesday, raising the seven-day average to its highest level in five weeks.

A total of 5,090 cases were recorded in the last 24 hours, more than 1,000 higher than Tuesday’s figure and 15% more than a week ago. In the last seven days infections have risen by an average of 5.2%.

Another 222 patients were admitted to hospital with Covid-19, while 40 people were transferred to intensive care, a level last seen in early January. However, the total number of hospital patients fell by 38 to 1,946, of whom 549 are being treated in intensive care.

The proportion of tests that were positive fell to 8.6%, continuing the downward trend of the last three weeks. The average number of positive tests in the last seven days is 4,658.

The virus is continuing to decline in nursing homes, with 385 institutions reporting an infection in the last two weeks compared to 452 a week ago. Another 48 deaths were confirmed on Tueday, against a seven-day average figure of 42.

The RIVM also said 1,425,319 vaccine doses have been given so far.