A further 7,740 positive coronavirus tests were reported to public health institute RIVM in the 24 hours to 10am on Friday, up 137 on Wednesday and well above the average over the past week.

The figure fits in with the current upward trend. The number of positive cases has risen 19% over the past week, compared with the earlier seven day period.

The number of people being treated in hospital also rose slightly to 2,192, of whom 619 are in intensive care.

Local health boards have carried out 10 million coronavirus tests since the pandemic began last year, and that includes 518,000 in the past week alone, central association GGD GHOR said on Thursday.