Coronavirus cases below weekly average, sharp drop in nursing home deaths

The number of positive coronavirus tests on Thursday fell below the weekly average, while hospital and intensive care admissions were also down.

In the 24 hours to 10am another 4,161 cases were recorded by the public health agency RIVM, more than 900 fewer than on Wednesday and 17% below last Thursday’s figure.

In the last week an average of just over 4,500 infections were recorded a day, while 8.6% of all tests were positive. The positive test rate has been declining since mid-February.

Another 135 patients were admitted to hospital, with the total number of people being treated for Covid-19 was 1,923, a fall of 23 in the last 24 hours. The total number being treated in intensive care was 539, 10 fewer than on Wednesday.

In the last 24 hours 33 coronavirus-related deaths were recorded, against a seven-day average of 42. A week ago the average figure was 50.

Coronavirus was detected in 383 nursing homes in the past two weeks, one more than yesterday’s figure. Three people were recorded as having died in nursing homes, the fifth day in a row that the number has been in single figures. In mid-January an average of 49 deaths in nursing homes were being reported per day.