8,265 new COVID-19 infections were reported over the past week by the Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs). For the second week in a row, there has been a sharp increase in the number of positive tests reported. In the previous week, 5,427 people tested positive for the novel coronavirus, and 3,597 people tested positive in the week before that. Continuing the trend of the past few weeks, the highest numbers of people who tested positive for COVID-19 were in the age category of 20-29 years old.
Percentage of positive tests this week is 3.9%
In the week of 7 to 13 September, 195,545 people were tested at a test site operated by the Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs)*. 180,182 people were tested in the previous week. Of the people who got tested last week and whose test results are now known, 3.9% tested positive for COVID-19. That percentage was 2.8% in the week before. The percentages were highest in the GGD regions of Haaglanden (9.1%), Rotterdam-Rijnmond (8.2%) and Amsterdam (8.2%).
*Source: GGD-GHOR
Hospital admissions, intensive care admissions and deaths
From 9 to 15 September, the GGDs received reports of 92 people who were admitted to hospital due to COVID-19*. This is an increase compared to the admissions reported in the previous week (43 patients). This increase is also visible in the number of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in nursing ward admissions registered by the NICE Foundation (144 in the past week, compared to 89 in the week before). The number of reported admissions to intensive care rose to 27. This figure was 19 in the week before*. The deaths of 14 COVID-19 patients were reported in the past week. There were 17 in the week before.*
*Not all patient admissions or deaths occurred in the last week.
Source: The National Intensive Care Evaluation (NICE) Foundation
Setting where the infection occurred
In 25% of the confirmed cases reported last week, the setting where the infection probably occurred is known. More than half of those people were infected at home (see figure 1). It is striking to note an increase in the number of people who were probably infected at work and in nursing homes.
Figure 1 Settings of possible infection with COVID-19 reported by the GGDs between 8 and 15 September
COVID-19 in nursing homes
The number of reports of infected nursing home residents increased last week. Last week, the GGD regions of Haaglanden, Kennemerland, Rotterdam-Rijnmond and Amsterdam received the most reports of nursing home residents who tested positive for COVID-19. No increase has been observed so far in the number of deaths in nursing homes.
Figure 2: Number of people living in nursing homes and residential care centres who have COVID-19 and have been reported to the GGDs since 6 July 2020. (A) Number of confirmed cases reported among residents in nursing homes and residential care centres, by reporting date. (B) Number of deaths among residents in nursing homes and residential care centres, by date of death.
Reproduction number R
The reproduction number continued to increase, rising from 1.17 to 1.38 (with a confidence interval of 1.29 to 1.47). The reproduction number (R) indicates how many other people are infected on average by one person who has the novel coronavirus. This means that 100 people who are infected with the novel coronavirus will collectively infect another 138 people.
To prevent the virus from continuing to spread, it is important for people to comply with the measures. Keep your distance. Work from home as much as possible. If you have symptoms, stay home and get tested. Wash your hands frequently, and in any case when you arrive at home, after using the toilet, and before preparing food. Sneeze and cough into your elbow.