The upward trend in COVID-19 figures continues to rise in the Netherlands. The increase is visible in all areas. The number of nursing home residents who tested positive for COVID-19 rose by 23% last week. Hospitals are also admitting more and more people due to COVID-19. The current situation presents extra risks, especially for vulnerable groups of people. The RIVM Response Team therefore advises setting the coronavirus thermometer to status 2: increased.
Infections with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 continued to increase in the Netherlands last week. There was a significant increase in the number of newly reported positive tests from nursing homes. The number of new admissions to hospital nursing wards has also increased. The ICUs are still relatively quiet.
Hospital occupancy has now reached a level comparable to the number of people who were in the hospital during the peak of the 2022 summer wave. The number of newly reported infections among nursing home residents is also at about the same level as during the peak of the 2022 summer wave (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Number of people living in nursing homes and residential care centres who have SARS-CoV-2 and have been reported to the GGDs, by date of the positive test result, including the average number over the past seven days. From 24 May 2022 to 9 October 2022.
Recommendations for vulnerable groups
In an open society without significant measures to curb COVID-19, the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 can spread more easily. Some groups of people have a higher risk of serious illness resulting from the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, and being hospitalised as a result. They are particularly vulnerable.
The highest risk applies to people aged 70 years and older. However, people with underlying health conditions may also have a higher risk of serious illness. For these people, the most important recommendation is to get the repeat vaccination against COVID-19 to protect themselves. RIVM also offers other recommendations to protect vulnerable people.