COVID-19 infections rise by 35 pct in the Netherlands despite lockdown
Despite an anti-pandemic lockdown currently in force, the number of positive COVID-19 tests in the Netherlands increased by 35 per cent in the past week, compared to the previous week, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) announced on Tuesday.
Covid 19 Mask, Credit- Çağlar Oskay
The number of positive tests between Dec. 28, 2021, and Jan. 4, 2022, grew to a total of 113,554, compared to 84,398 in the week before that. It is the first increase after a month of decline in the weekly infection figures.
The RIVM also reported that the downward trend in hospital admissions continued, but flattened out. There were 14 per cent fewer new hospital admissions of patients with COVID-19 last week, compared to the week before. ICU admissions were also down by 16 per cent compared to the previous week.
"Since late December 2021, the Omicron variant has caused the most SARS-CoV-2 infections in the Netherlands," the RIVM said. "This virus variant spreads considerably faster than the Delta variant. In the next few weeks, as infections rise rapidly due to Omicron, the number of hospital admissions may start increasing again."
Out of fear of the rise of the Omicron variant in the country, the Dutch government has introduced a lockdown since Dec. 19 last year. Only essential shops like supermarkets, medical contact professions, and car garages remain open, while non-essential shops and the catering industry, restaurants, museums, theatres and zoos have to close their doors.