Increase in patients suffering from the flu; coronavirus infections still low

The number of flu patients is increasing. Last week, 38 out of every 100,000 people went to a GP with flu-like symptoms. This is the highest number since March of last year, but it is still below the line of what is considered an epidemic, said the research institute Nivel. The number of patients has almost doubled since the last week of last year.

The number of infections also increased around this time last year. It was considered an epidemic from the end of January up to the end of March.

Although these numbers are high, the number of people who have been infected with the coronavirus is still very low for this time of year. Four times as many virus particles were found in the sewage water this time last year.

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) uses the measurement from the sewage water to track the spread of the virus because most large-scale coronavirus testing has been abolished.

The institution also uses the platform Infectieradar, where people can report a positive coronavirus test and that they have the virus. Around 0.3 percent of the users reported a positive test last week. This number was at 2 percent this time last year.