The average number of positive coronavirus tests rose by 8% in the last week to 7,699, according to latest figures published by the RIVM.

Another 7,187 cases were reported on Monday morning, nearly 1,500 down on Sunday’s figure but a week-on-week rise of 7.7%. The rate of increase has slowed down in the last week from a peak of 25%.

The number of people being treated in hospital increased by 66 in the last 24 hours to 2,544, of whom 813 are in intensive care. The ICU figures are at their highest level for almost a year.

The RIVM also confirmed another 22 deaths from coronavirus in the last 24 hours, against a weekly average of 21. A week ago the average figure was 23.

In the last two weeks coronavirus cases have been reported in 178 nursing homes, compared to 850 in early January. The figure has hovered around the 180 mark for the last two weeks.