6,577 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, highest number since November 7

Data released by the public health agency RIVM showed the highest number of new SARS-CoV-2 infections since November 7. On Saturday, the agency reported 6,577 new cases, an 11 percent increase compared to Friday and a 46 percent increase compared to last week.

Saturday’s infection numbers bring the weekly count to 31,778 cases, with a seven-day rolling average of 5,341 cases.

The stark increase in cases further cements the cabinet’s skepticism towards easing restrictions before mid-January, as was demonstrated by Prime Minister Mark Rutte in his weekly press conference on Friday. 

The cities with the highest number of infections were Amsterdam (344), Tilburg (159), and Rotterdam (155). All three cities saw an increase in cases compared to Friday. Rotterdam saw an 18 percent decrease compared to last week, while in Amsterdam and Tilburg, numbers have gone up compared to last Saturday.

On Saturday, the RIVM reported 39 new deaths. This was a 33 percent decrease versus the previous day and a 34 percent decrease compared to the same time last week. The average number of daily Covid-related deaths was 49 for the past week. 

Hospitals reported a drop in Covid-19 patients. On Saturday, the hospital coordination organization LCPS reported 220 new hospitalizations, which included 189 patients admitted in regular care facilities and 31 patients admitted in intensive care. This brings the total number of non-IC patients to 1,130, a net decrease of 22 compared to the previous day. The number of ICU patients was 472, one less than Friday. 

The total number of Covid-19 patients currently in hospitals is 1,602. This reflects a 1.4 percent decrease compared to the day before and a 6.4 percent change compared to last Saturday. On average, coronavirus hospitalizations have decreased by approximately 1 percent in the previous week. At this rate, we should expect about 1,500 Covid-19 patients in hospitals next Saturday.

According to the non-profit organization, NICE, 5,028 people have died of the virus while in hospital to date.