A total of 6,945 new coronavirus cases were reported to public health institute RIVM in the 24 hours to Wednesday morning.

That is 142 more than on Tuesday and means the average number of positive tests in the past week is up 13% on the previous seven day period.

The RIVM also said coronavirus had now been identified at 73 different nursing homes, up from 33 a week ago. Ministers had said the rise in infections, which is currently dominated by the under-30s, would spread through to older generations.

In total, 428 people are now being treated in hospital, with 65 overnight admissions. Of them 106 are in an intensive care ward.

Hospital admissions have now risen by more than 50 a day for the past three days.

Meanwhile, a series of DDoS attacks has made it impossible for some people to find out their test results, make an appointment for a test or a vaccination and check earlier appointments, the regional health board association GGD GHOR has confirmed.

In some cases the health boards are now ringing people to let them know their results, the organisation said.