The number of coronavirus patients in hospital increased on a weekly basis for the first time in more than six weeks, latest government figures show.

On Wednesday morning there were 1,154 people being treated for Covid-19 – nine fewer than on Tuesday, but five more than last Wednesday.

The last time the number was higher than the previous week was on December 13, when 2,768 people were being treated.

The number of patients in intensive care fell to 249, three fewer than 24 hours ago and a 17.8% decline in the last week.

The public health agency RIVM’s latest weekly figures showed the number of hospital admissions increased by 15% last week.

Epidemiologist Susan van den Hof said: ‘With the relaxations of the rules that are coming in now the number of positive tests will increase further in the coming weeks and we expect that the number of hospital admissions will also increase further, reaching a peak in March.’

On Wednesday another 58,666 positive tests were confirmed, taking the seven-day average figure past 55,000. A record 46.5% of all tests were positive in the last week.

The RIVM recorded an average of nine deaths from coronavirus in the seven days, the same level as a week ago.