The average number of positive coronavirus tests increased slightly on Monday for the first time in more than two weeks.

Another 1,411 cases were recorded by the public health agency RIVM, a 4.6% increase on last Monday’s figure. The percentage of positive tests is unchanged at 7.4%.

The seven-day average went up from 1,668 to 1,673, having fallen by 13% since last week. It is the first increase since September 10, when around 2,500 cases were being recorded per day, while the week-on-week decline is at its lowest level for 11 days.

The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital went up by 11 to 484, while 164 people are currently in intensive care, five fewer than on Sunday. Hospital numbers tend to rise at the start of the week because fewer patients are discharged at the weekend.

In the last week 36 people have been admitted to hospital per day with coronavirus, while nine have been transferred to intensive care. Four deaths have been recorded per day, against an average of seven a week ago.