The number of people hospitalized with coronavirus is increasing rapidly and the number of coronavirus particles found in waste water soared 57% last week to the highest ever level, according to government figures. 

The number of hospital admissions has risen from 108 per day to 149 per day over the past week and some hospitals are being forced to try to find extra beds, the AD reported on Thursday.

In the week to Thursday an average of 741 people were in hospital with coronavirus each day, of whom 43 were in intensive care. That is a rise of 13 on the previous week.

Two dominant variants – EG.5 and BA.2.86 – are currently doing the rounds in the Netherlands and while there is no evidence they are likely to make people more ill, the virus can still have a serious impact, experts warn. 

“We have built up resistance through vaccinations and there is a lower likelihood of ending up in hospital, but Covid can still make people seriously ill,” Harald Wychgel, from public health institute RIVM, told the AD. 

Lung specialist Merel Hellemons from Erasmus teaching hospital in Rotterdam said that people must still take precautions. “Covid is not over,” she said. “We have to remain cautious and isolate ourselves if we have symptoms.” 

It is also important to continue testing if you think you may have the virus, Hellemons said. 

The government has not issued any specific new recommendations for coping with the spread of the virus but says people should continue to wash their hands well, ventilate rooms properly, and avoid contact with people who could become seriously ill.