The average number of coronavirus cases in the last week has exceeded 8,000 for the first time since January 5, according to the latest figures from the public health agency RIVM.

Another 8,530 cases were reported on Wednesday, well above the average figure which now stands at 8,143. In the last week 10.2% of all tests were positive.

The number of patients in hospital fell by 39 to 2,614, of whom 822 are in intensive care, one fewer than on Tuesday. Hospital occupancy tends to be lower in the second half of the week because fewer patients are discharged over the weekend.

Another 18 people were confirmed to have died in the last 24 hours, against a seven-day average of 19. A week ago the average figure was 25.

In the last two weeks 172 nursing homes have recorded at least one infection, a figure which has hovered around the 170 mark for the last two weeks.

More than 4.7 million vaccine doses have now been given, according to the RIVM’s calculations, of which around 900,000 have been second jabs. Another 730,000 vaccinations are planned in the next seven days.