Public health institute RIVM received reports of 6,068 new cases of coronavirus in the 24 hours to Friday morning, the highest total in two months and 711 up on Thursday.

The number of positive results over the past seven days has averaged at just under 5,000.

However, the number of people being treated in hospital has gone down slightly to 1,910, of whom 576 are in intensive care, hospital figures show.

Meanwhile, the cabinet says it is further expanding its support schemes to help companies hit by the lockdown, at a further cost of €730m.

Payments to help firms meet their fixed costs (TVL) are being increased from 85% to 100% and there will also be more payments for households faced with not being able to pay their bills (TONK).

The changes follow calls from MPs, who urged the government to expand the TVL scheme. ‘An increasing number of companies are through their reserves and need money to pay their fixed costs,’ economic affairs minister Bas van ‘t Wout said.

‘In addition, there are people who risk becoming stuck between a rock and a hard place because they have lost income due to the coronavirus measures.’