A record 24,590 positive coronavirus tests were reported to public health institute RIVM in the 24 hours to Wednesday morning – the highest ever figure in a single day.

The total is up almost 6,000 on Tuesday.

The previous record of 23,713 dates from November 24 and there were more than 20,000 positive tests on December 6.

The Wednesday total takes the weekly average to nearly 17.500 a day, which is up 41% on the previous seven day period. The RIVM said in its weekly update on Tuesday that the number of positive tests was up 35%, week on week.

Read all the latest statistics, in English

Amsterdam had the highest number of positive tests with 2,264 new cases in 24 hours.

Tough anti-coronavirus measures have been in effect in the Netherlands since December 19 to give health officials enough time to get the booster campaign up to speed, ahead of the expected surge in Omicron variant cases.

Lockdown

On Tuesday, government health experts warned people not to expect measures to be lifted when they are reassessed next week because of the expected rise in positive tests.

Meanwhile, judges in The Hague have rejected a claim by anti-coronavirus measure campaigners to lift the lockdown measures.

The state has wide-ranging powers to take such decisions if it is necessary in the public interest, the court said.