13,471 new COVID-19 infections were reported in the week of 16 - 22 September by the Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs). For the third week in a row, there has been a major increase in the number of infections. The percentage of positive tests at the GGD test sites last week is also significantly higher than the week before, at 6.1%. The number of tests in the GGD test lanes remained about the same.
The provinces with the most infections per 100,000 inhabitants are North Holland, South Holland, Utrecht, and Groningen. The highest number of infections per 100,000 inhabitants is still in the age category of 20 to 29 years. The number of infections is increasing in all age groups (see Figure 1).
Figure 1. Number of confirmed cases per 100,000 inhabitants, by age group, in the past 6 weeks
Increase in reported hospital admissions, intensive care admissions and deaths
The number of people admitted to the nursing ward of a hospital due to COVID-19 rose in the past week to 152 reported hospital admissions.* Most hospitalisations in the past week were in the age categories from 55 to 84 years. The rising trend in hospital admissions compared to the previous week is in line with the data provided by the NICE Foundation (National Intensive Care Evaluation). The NICE Foundation also reported an increase in the number of people admitted to intensive care due to COVID-19. Data provided by the NICE Foundation. For more details on the figures provided by the NICE Foundation, see page 37 of the epidemiological report (only in Dutch) or http://www.stichting-nice.nl.
The deaths of 33 COVID-19 patients were reported in the past week, which is 19 more than the week before.
* See table, source: GGD reports. ** Not all of the reported hospital admissions or deaths occurred within the last week.
COVID-19 in nursing homes
Once again, the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections reported in nursing homes was higher last week than the week before (see Figure 2). The highest numbers of nursing home residents who tested positive for COVID-19 were in the GGD regions of Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Haaglanden, Hollands Midden and Amsterdam Amstelland. There is a slight increase 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.
More than 100,000 contagious people in the Netherlands
If a person catches the novel coronavirus, that person is contagious and can infect others for a certain period. Based on various data sources about how many people are infected with the novel coronavirus, it is possible to estimate the number of contagious people in the Netherlands and the range of probability. According to the latest data, there are more than 104,437 contagious people in the Netherlands (range: 68,745 – 143,705). The number of contagious people has been rising rapidly since mid-July: from a few thousand contagious people in July to more than 100,000 in September.
Figure 3: The estimated number of contagious people in the Netherlands. The figure shows the number of contagious people based on the number of hospital admissions up to 12 June, left of the vertical dotted line, and the number of contagious people based on the number of confirmed cases reported since 12 June, right of the dotted line.
Contagious people are defined here as people who have a COVID-19 infection, and are also reasonably able to infect others, eventually generating verifiable antibodies after the infection.
Reproduction number R
The reproduction number is 1.33 (range 1.26 - 1.40) and has not changed much compared to last week, when the reproduction number was 1.38. The confidence interval is still entirely above 1. A reproduction number of 1.33 means that 100 people who are infected with the novel coronavirus will collectively infect another 133 people.
To prevent the virus from continuing to spread, it is important for everyone 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.
| Last week1 | Two weeks ago2 | |
|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 reports by Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs) | ||
| Newly reported COVID-19 infections | 13.471 | 8.265 |
| Reported hospitalisations | 152 | 92 |
| Deaths | 33 | 14 |
| GGD test lanes per calendar week3 | week 38 | week 37 |
| Total number of tests | 192.255 | 195.545 |
| of which results are known | 169.316 | 188.898 |
| Number of people who tested positive | 10.363 | 7.419 |
| Percentage of positive tests | 6,1% | 3,9% |
Not all of the reported hospital admissions or deaths occurred within the last 24 hours
¹GGD reports to RIVM between 15 September 10:01 and 22 September 10:00 as published 22 September 2020 in the weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 in the Netherlands
²GGD reports to RIVM between 8 September 10:01 and 15 September 10:00, as published 15 September 2020 in the weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 in the Netherlands
³As published on 15 September 2020 in the weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 in the Netherlands. The figures from the GGD test lanes were reported during the past week and current week, and may be updated to include any test results provided later