The average number of coronavirus cases reported in the past seven days has fallen for the first time in more than two weeks, but there was an increase in hospital patients.

The public health agency RIVM recorded another 3,826 cases on Monday, compared to a seven-day average of 4,545. The figure is also 8.1% lower than last Monday.

Another 127 patients were admitted to hospital while 26 were transferred to intensive care. In total 1,911 people are being treated in hospital for Covid-19, 63 more than on Sunday, of whom 536 are in intensive care.

The positive test rate was 9%, continuing the steady downward trend since the beginning of February.

Another 22 people were recorded as having died, bringing the total to 15,584. In the last seven days an average of 48 deaths have been confirmed, compared to 59 a week ago.

The virus is continuing to decline in nursing homes, where 412 institutions have reported at least one infection in the past two weeks. A week ago the figure was 461.

The RIVM estimates that 1,336,670 vaccine doses have now been given.