The RIVM has reported its weekly coronavirus figures from March 15 to March 22. Both the number of hospitalisations and deaths went down.
Over the past week, the RIVM has reported 313,318 new infections in the Netherlands. This represents a stark drop compared to last week’s report of 429,252 infections.
The percentage of positive tests remained exactly the same with 66,2% of people testing positive compared to 66.2% from the week before.
Deaths
The number of patients who have died from coronavirus-related complications went down slightly. This week, 95 people passed away compared to 104 people the previous week.
Hospitalisations
The number of admissions to the nursing ward decreased while the number of admissions in the ICU increased. The past week saw 1,200 new admissions to the nursing ward and 91 new patients in the ICU.
The previous week, there were 1,250 patients and 77 patients respectively.
The Netherlands scraps testing and proof of vaccination
Last week, the Dutch government announced they were scrapping major travel restrictions to the Netherlands — EU/Schengen area passengers no longer require a negative PCR or antigen test, nor proof of vaccination.
Instead, they only need to fill in a health declaration form. Additionally, it’s advised to do self-tests upon arrival and again after five days. Non-EU/Schengen area nationals continue to have travel requirements for entering the Netherlands but the testing restrictions do not apply to them anymore.
‘Virus Truth” leader Willem Engel arrested
The leader of the Dutch anti-coronavirus movement Willem Engel was arrested last week. Engel was suspected to have promoted civil unrest on social media, as well as spreading medical information.
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