The number of patients being in hospital with coronavirus fell by more than 100 on Wednesday as infections continued to decline.

According to the latest figures from the public health agency RIVM, 2,435 people are currently being treated for the disease, including 738 in intensive care. The figures for the previous day were 2,570 and 748 respectively.

Hospital numbers tend to fall on Wednesday as patients discharged after the weekend are included.

Another 226 patients were admitted on May 7, the most recent date for which complete figures are available. The seven-day average has dropped by 18.6% from its peak of 266 in late April.

The government has said the second stage of lifting coronavirus restrictions can go ahead next week provided the number of admissions is 20% below the peak.

Another 6,422 positive tests were recorded in the 24 hours to Wednesday morning, 11.8% fewer than a week ago. The seven-day average has dropped to 6,604. However, the percentage of positive tests over the last week was 12.5%, the highest level since early January.

So far 6,722,905 vaccine doses have been given, with the RIVM expecting to reach the 7 million mark later this week.

A further 16 people were reported to have died, while the average number of deaths per day has increased in the last week from 20 to 22.