Public health institute RIVM registered 7,668 new coronavirus cases in the 24 hours to Saturday morning 10am.

This is up 280 on Friday’s total and the highest figure since the beginning of January. The weekly average has also now risen nearly 23% to 6,227 cases a day.

The number of tests has also risen, partly due to more children being tested now that the schools have gone back, broadcaster NOS said. The positive test rate is currently 7.8%.

At the same time, the number of positive cases in nursing homes continues to decline as the vaccination programme picks up speed.

There has been a slight increase in the number of hospitalisations and 2,047 people are currently being treated in hospital. Of them, 602 are in intensive care, a rise of 23 on Friday’s total.