Nearly 2,000 people test positive for coronavirus in 24 hours: Dutch officials

A total of 1,977 positive coronavirus tests were registered with the public health institute RIVM in the 24 hours to 10am, the agency said on Friday afternoon.

This is the highest number of positive tests on a single day since the pandemic hit the Netherlands, and the fourth day in a row that a new record has been set.

At the same time, however, the number of hospital admissions is low, rising by just 12 overnight. A further seven people have died. Nevertheless, officials are worried that the sharp rise in infections will lead to an increase in hospitalisations and deaths in the coming days, as the virus spreads from young adults to their older relations.

Most new cases were in Amsterdam, where 361 new positive tests were recorded overnight, taking the infection rate to 9.7 per 10,000 in the Dutch capital.

Prime minister Mark Rutte and health minister Hugo de Jonge will hold a press conference at 7pm outlining new regional measures to try to reduce the spread of coronavirus. These are widely expected to include a 1am closing time for cafes and bars and a 50 person limit on numbers.

DutchNews.nl will live tweet from the press conference.