The demand for coronavirus tests is now so high that regional health board testing centres have reached their maximum capacity, umbrella organisation GGD GHOR said on Monday evening.

Attempts to scale up to 120,000 tests a day will be difficult because of the shortage of staff. ‘Many people are saying we should bring in more workers,’ programme director Jaap Eikelboom said.

‘It’s a logical reaction, but the current labour market is working against us. We are working hard to recruit more people but it is almost impossible, given the explosive growth [in demand].’

Last week, GGD testing centres carried out 560,000 tests – double the total in mid October. On Monday, 91,000 tests were carried out, breaking the previous record set in March 2021.

Some 4,000 people are currently working in GGD call centres setting up appointments and the organisation is urging people to call in the afternoon and evening, when waiting times are shorter.

People who cannot yet make a test appointment should stay home if they have symptoms, and ventilate their homes properly, the organisation said.

Appointments can also be booked online at coronatest.nl although here too it is almost impossible to find a slot within the coming days.