Coronavirus cases below 4000, more patients in intensive care

Another 3,924 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the last 24 hours, while the number of patients in intensive care is back at the levels seen in early February.

The number of infections is below the seven-day average figure, which has hovered around the 4,500 mark for the last two weeks.

Case numbers are at their lowest at the start of the week because people are less likely to go for a test at the weekend.

Another 124 people were admitted to hospital with coronavirus, while the total number of patients being treated increased by 41 to 1,905, while 33 were transferred to intensive care.

There are currently 558 Covid-19 patients in ICU beds, a level which has only once been higher since February 5.

Altogether 8.2% of tests produced a positive result, with the proportion gradually declining since mid-February.

The public heath agency RIVM said another 26 people had died from Covid-19, bringing the total to 15,859. On average 39 deaths a day have been reported in the last week, compared to 48 a week ago.

The virus is continuing to decline in nursing homes, with 332 institutions reporting at least one infection in the past fortnight. A week ago the figure was 394.

An estimated 283,600 vaccine doses were given in the last week, bringing the total so far to just over 1.6 million.