In the past week, from 23 to 29 December, the reported number of people who tested positive for COVID-19 was 67,388. This is a slight decrease of 11.7% compared to the week of 16 to 22 December.

The UK variant of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been found in 11 people in the Netherlands so far: 5 people in the Amsterdam region, 5 people in the Rotterdam region and 1 person in the Nijmegen

The advance of the coronavirus (SARS-COV-2) in the Netherlands continues unabated. It is still too early to see the effects of the lockdown that was announced on 15 December.

In 2019, the calculated concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10) were below the European limit values ​​in almost the whole of the Netherlands. Locally, the limit value for nitrogen dioxide is still being exceeded.

As of 7 December 2020, RIVM has become a knowledge partner of the international Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE).

If the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approves BioNTech/Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine next week, the first people in the Netherlands will receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Friday 8 January 2021.

During the first wave, the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) had a major impact on healthcare in the Netherlands. Many patients faced delays in appointments and treatments.

The increase in the reported number of people who tested positive for COVID-19 in the last two weeks was followed last week by an increase in the number of hospital and ICU admissions.

27% more new COVID-19 infections were reported last week than in the week before that.

If all goes well, the first people in the Netherlands will be vaccinated against COVID-19 in early January. The logistics operation aims to start vaccination in the week of 4 January 2021.