In the last week from 19 to 26 October 2021, 50% more people tested positive for COVID-19 compared to the week before. Reported figures increased in all regions and in all age groups. 18.3% of people aged 12 years and older are currently not vaccinated against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Of the people (aged 12+) who tested positive for the coronavirus in recent weeks, 52% were not vaccinated against the coronavirus, or were not (yet) fully vaccinated. Prevent the spread by staying 1.5 metres apart wherever possible, and working from home if you can. If you have symptoms, stay home and get tested by the Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs). Even if you are vaccinated.
The number of new patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 increased to 584 admissions last week (34% more than the week before). 110 new COVID-19 patients were admitted to ICU (+31%).
All the weekly COVID-19 figures are presented in a table and in graphs on the RIVM website.
38,733 positive test results were reported last week*, a 50% increase compared to the week before that. Per 100,000 inhabitants, 225 people received a positive test result. More than 224,000 people were tested by the Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs), 13% more than in the week before that. The percentage of people who tested positive for COVID-19 increased, rising from 12.0% to 15.3%*. The increase in the number of positive COVID-19 tests seems to be related to the relaxed measures implemented over four weeks ago, combined with the seasonal effect.
* Including tests to confirm the results of a self-test. See the table for more information.
Increase observed in all regions and in all age groups
The number of newly reported SARS-CoV-2 infections increased in all age groups (see Figure 1). All security regions have shown an increase in the number of reported positive tests. The highest numbers of positive tests per 100,000 inhabitants were reported in the security regions of Zuid-Holland-Zuid (365), Limburg-Noord (349), IJsselland (341), Gelderland-Zuid (299) and Gelderland-Midden (296). Reflecting the trend in the rest of the population, nursing homes also saw an increase in residents who tested positive for COVID-19 over the past three weeks.
Figure 1: Number of reported positive tests per 100,000 inhabitants, by age group (13 September to 24 October 2021)
Number of vaccinated and unvaccinated persons among people who tested positive for COVID-19
During the past six calendar weeks (13 September to 24 October 2021), 114,831 people received a positive test result. Of these, 17,474 (15%) were younger than 12 years old. The vaccination status of 79,243 (84%) of people aged 12 years and older is known. Of the people who tested positive and whose vaccination status was known at the time when they were tested, 48% were fully vaccinated, 4% were partly vaccinated, and 48% were not vaccinated (or not yet). Per 100,000 inhabitants aged 12 years and older who were not vaccinated (or partly vaccinated), an average of 28 people per day received a positive test result in the past calendar week. Per 100,000 inhabitants aged 12 years and older who were vaccinated, an average of 8 people per day received a positive test result.
Hospital admissions in the past week
The number of people with COVID-19 who were admitted to hospital increased by 34% last week compared to the week before, rising to 584 new hospital admissions. 110 patients with COVID-19 were admitted to ICU last week, 26 more new patients than in the week before (+31%).
There are regional differences in hospital admissions. Looking at hospital admissions in relation to the number of people living in the region, the highest numbers of people with COVID-19 admitted to hospital in the last calendar week were observed in the regions of Zuid-Holland-Zuid, IJsselland, Limburg-Zuid, Flevoland and Gelderland-Midden. Most people admitted to hospital with COVID-19 have not been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. 4 in 5 COVID-19 patients in the intensive care wards are not vaccinated.
Hospital admissions from August-October 2020 compared to August-October 2021
Vaccination offers 95% protection against hospital admission and 97% against ICU admission. The number of people admitted to hospital with COVID-19 in the last three weeks was one-third of the number admitted in the same weeks in 2020. The number of people admitted to intensive care with COVID-19 in the past three weeks was about half compared to the same period last year. During the same period in 2020, there were no new and more contagious variants circulating yet, no one had been vaccinated, and even more measures were in force, such as staying 1.5 metres apart and restricting group size.
Figure 2: Number of hospital admissions and ICU admissions by calendar week in weeks 32 to 42, in 2020 and in 2021
Despite the fact that there are currently fewer people hospitalised with COVID-19 than during the same period last year, the pressure on the healthcare system due to COVID-19 admissions remains high. The maximum ICU capacity for COVID-19 admissions is lower than last year, due to the provision of regular care, efforts to catch up on the care backlog, and loss of personnel.
Reproduction number R
The most recent reproduction number based on positive COVID-19 tests is for 11 October, and remained about the same, changing from 1.20 to 1.19 (lower limit 1.16 – upper limit 1.23). That means that 100 people who have COVID-19 will collectively infect another 119 new people. The virus is spreading more and more.
*Positive tests reported to RIVM between 19 October at 10:01 and 26 October 2021 at 10:00. The number of tests in GGD test lanes, hospital admissions and ICU admissions are shown by calendar week.