In total, 4,246 new positive coronavirus tests were reported to public health institute RIVM by 10am on Thursday morning, up 208 on Wednesday and above the weekly average.

The number of positive tests per day has been falling for some time, but rose on Wednesday and now again on Thursday.  The Netherlands is set to pass the one million positive test mark this weekend.

However, the number of coronavirus patients in Dutch hospitals fell again in the 24 hours to Thursday morning. There are now 2,121 people being treated for coronavirus in hospital, of whom 602 are in intensive care, according to new figures from patient monitoring body LCPS.

‘The number of admissions has been relatively stable, with a slight downward trend,’ LCPS chief Ernst Kuipers told reporters on Wednesday. ‘Whether or not this continues depends on the ‘British’ coronavirus mutation. ‘But we are assuming that this decline will continue until the second week in February when it may start rising again.’

Russian vaccine

Meanwhile, some MPs have called on the Netherlands to look at the Russian vaccine as a potential solution for the current shortage.

The far right PVV and ruling VVD and D66 suggest the Netherlands look seriously at the Sputnik vaccine, particularly if it is approved by the European medicines agency.