The number of confirmed corona infections is rising rapidly. In the past week, 26,462 people were told that they had contracted the corona virus after a visit to a GGD test location. That is the highest number since April 12, more than two months ago. Self-tests are not noted, so the actual number will be higher.
Last week, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) reported that it had registered 15,526 positive tests in seven days. This means that the number of confirmed infections has risen by 70 percent in a week. In two weeks, the number has nearly tripled.
All ages
According to the RIVM, the increase can be seen ‘throughout the Netherlands and among all age groups’. The increase is due to the emergence of new versions of the omikron variant of the coronavirus. They are better able to circumvent the immune system, but it doesn’t seem to make people sicker. The number of infections is also increasing in other countries.
Due to the new corona wave, more people with complaints go to the GGD. But more people with corona also ended up in hospital. For the first time in more than a month, more than 600 people with corona are in Dutch hospitals. In total, 605 people have tested positive for the virus, 55 more than Monday.
According to the National Coordination Center for Patient Distribution (LCPS), the increase is entirely attributable to the nursing wards, which now house 583 patients with covid. There are 22 in intensive care units, the same number as Monday. This number has been hovering around this level for weeks.
Very difficult to say how this will develop in the coming weeks
‘Do a self-test’
Due to the increasing number of infections, it is even more important to stick to the basic measures, says the RIVM. “Keep your distance from the vulnerable. Do you have complaints, do a self-test. If it’s positive, you go into isolation. Stay home, be careful. The basic measures that have never disappeared are important right now. Compliance with this should be better,” says a spokesperson for the institute.
He continues: ,,It is very difficult to say how this will develop in the coming weeks. We know it’s going to increase further, we just don’t know how long it will last and how high the peak will be. We don’t have enough information about the new sub-variants yet. But it will increase.”
There is currently no talk of a new round of vaccinations. Non-vulnerable people under 60 with a booster shot still have ‘a decent degree of protection’. The RIVM advises people over 60 to get their repeat shot.
The reproduction number, which indicates how quickly the virus spreads, is at 1.25. This means that an average group of 100 people infected with corona infects 125 others. They then infected 156 people, who then transmit the virus to 195 others.
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