The Netherlands recorded its third highest number of positive coronavirus tests in a single day on Wednesday, with 12,713 new cases, according to the public health agency RIVM.

The seven-day average figure also increased to 11,470, representing a rise of 44% in the last week and just below the peak of the second wave last December.

The number of patients in hospital was unchanged at 1,647, while 327 people are being treated in intensive care, eight more than on Monday.

The RIVM also reported another 25 deaths from Covid-19, just above the average for the last seven days of 23.

The current record for infections was set on December 20, when 13,066 people tested positive for the virus. Five days earlier the country went into lockdown, with restaurants, cinemas and non-essential shops closed and schools moving to online lessons.