Slight rise in coronavirus patients in hospital, fewer positive tests

More people were admitted to hospital with coronavirus in the past week, but the number of positive test reports is down, public health institute RIVM said on Tuesday.

The number of positive tests at regional health board centres fell 19% and there were 21% fewer cases reported at nursing homes, the latest weekly update from the institute shows.

The key R reproduction rate remains below 1 while the amount of virus particles found in waste water, which fell 8% last week, actually rose 7% between October 17 and 19. The highest concentration of particles was found in Amsterdam’s waste water supply, the RIVM said.

There was also a 6% increase in the number of hospital patients. In total, 721 people were admitted to hospital with coronavirus but 118 of them were initially hospitalized for a different health condition.

Some 1,122 people are now being treated for coronavirus in an ordinary ward and 55 are in intensive care, according to patient monitoring body LCPS.