The number of daily coronavirus tests in the Netherlands is likely to drop below 1,000 in the early part of this week for the first time since September 10.

Another 1,066 infections were reported on Sunday by the public health agency RIVM, following 1,265 on Saturday. Both figures were the lowest so far recorded in 2021.

In the past seven days positive cases have declined by 37.6%, while the positive test rate is 5.6%, the lowest proportion since September 17. If the current trend continues the average figure will fall below 1,000 by the end of the week.

The number of patients in hospital increased by four on Sunday to 676, while 265 people are being treated in intensive care, four fewer than on Saturday. Hospital numbers tend to decline less quickly at the weekend, when fewer patients are discharged.

In the past week an average of 44 people a day have been admitted to hospital with Covid-19, including seven to intensive care. At the end of April more than 2,700 coronavirus patients were in hospital, including more than 850 intensive care cases.

An average of five deaths a day were recorded in the last week, while 44 nursing homes had at least one infection in the last 28 days.