Coronavirus has been found on three more mink farms in the Netherlands, taking the total infected locations to 36.

So far, well over 1.6 million mink have been culled because of cornavirus, representing more than 30% of the animals kept on the country’s 128 mink farms.

The fur industry is due to be phased out by 2024, but pressure is mounting on farm minister Carola Schouten to order a preventative cull across the entire sector now. Mink are known to have passed the virus on to at least two farm workers.

In June, MPs voted in favour of a ban on further mink breeding and called for funding to help farmers close down their businesses ahead of schedule.

The government’s advisory team OMT in July also advised the cabinet to clear all mink farms if new infections were found later than mid August, as has now happened. The minister is now waiting for new recommendations from the OMT, the ministry statement said.

Coronavirus has also now been found in mink at two fur farms in the US.