Nearly 461,000 people have been tested for SARS-CoV-2 in the GGD test lanes in the past week. This is an increase of nearly 99,000 tests (+28%) compared to the week before that. The number of people who were tested for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has increased every week for the past four weeks (Figure 1). Children aged 0 to 12 were tested most frequently last week, followed by people aged 30 to 39. Getting tested if you have symptoms is an important cornerstone in the fight against the virus. The more people who get tested, and stay home if they have COVID-19, the greater the chance that we will be able to curb the spread of the virus together. The percentage of positive tests decreased from 8.0% a week earlier to 7.7%* in the past week. 

Figure 1: Number of tests with results (grey bars) and percentage of positive tests (red line) in the GGD test lanes per age category per week

Figure 2: Number of reported positive tests per age category per week. 

The highest number of reported positive tests per 100,000 inhabitants continues to be in the age group of 18-24 years. The number of newly reported infections per 100,000 inhabitants increased in all age groups (see Figure 2). The largest increase was among children aged 0 to 12 (+35%). This age group also showed the largest increase in the number of tests taken. Since the primary schools and childcare centres reopened four weeks ago, children in the same class as a pupil or teacher who tested positive for COVID-19 are now advised to get tested as well. The smallest increase in the number of positive COVID-19 tests per 100,000 inhabitants was seen among people aged 70 and older (+9%). 

Hospital admissions and ICU admissions 

1,234 people with COVID-19 were admitted to hospital in the past week. That is 20 more hospital admissions than the week before. 268 people became so ill that they had to be transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). That is 10 fewer ICU admissions than the week before (source: NICE Foundation).

Security regions

In the past week, the highest number of positive tests per 100,000 inhabitants was reported in the regions of Noord-Holland-Noord, Zaanstreek-Waterland, and Zuid-Holland-Zuid. The security regions with the fewest reported positive tests per 100,000 inhabitants were Limburg-Zuid and Gelderland-Midden. All the daily updates for each security region are posted on the Coronavirus Dashboard.

Reproduction number rises to 1.06

The reproduction number rose to 1.06 (1.03 – 1.09) on 1 March. One week earlier, the reproduction number was approximately 1. A reproduction number of 1.06 means that 100 people with COVID-19 will collectively infect another 106 people. The reproduction number is updated twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, on the Coronavirus Dashboard.

Variants of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

Based on the latest results from pathogen surveillance, the UK variant is now the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in the Netherlands. During pathogen surveillance, the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 was found in 75% of new infections in week 8. The latest data from pathogen surveillance, including the prevalence of the different variants, can be found here.

New variant identified in France

A previously unknown variant of the virus has been found in eight people in France, according to reports from the French Ministry of Health. These eight people were tested as part of a cluster and initially tested negative. The test they were given only used a nose swab. The new variant was discovered during further investigation of the genetic building blocks of the virus found in the hospital test samples. Initial indications are that this variant is not more contagious than other variants, and is not more likely to cause severe illness. Based on the information currently available regarding mutations in this new variant, the PCR tests used in the Netherlands do seem to be able to detect this variant. It is possible, however, that this variant may be more difficult to detect from a sample taken from a nose swab. It seems possible that this variant is less present in the nose, and is instead found mainly in the lower respiratory tract. The new variant is being subjected to further research. This French variant has not yet been found in pathogen surveillance in the Netherlands.

Are you considering getting tested? Then get tested. 

Relaxed measures may lead to more infections as the number of contact moments increases. Follow the COVID-19 rules. Avoid contact with others as much as possible. If you do meet up with someone, stay 1.5 metres apart. Wash your hands frequently, and in any case when you arrive somewhere or come home. Do you have any symptoms? Stay home and get tested. Do you have COVID-19? Then stay home, avoid contact with others, and cooperate with source and contact tracing by the Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs). This is how we can stop the virus from spreading. 

* Excluding results from large-scale testing in Bunschoten and Dronten.  If the localised large-scale test results from these locations are included, the percentage of positive tests in the Netherlands is 7.6%; without the large-scale test results, the percentage of positive tests is 7.7%. The percentage of positive tests including large-scale testing is 6.2% in Utrecht (6.2% excluding those results) and 5.7% in Flevoland (7.3% excluding those results).