Some 850 more people died last week than would have been expected using seasonal trends, the national statistics office CBS said on Friday. On average, under 3,000 people die per week at this time of year.

The excess death rate cuts across all age groups but in particular, more people have died in nursing homes and residential care than would have been expected, the CBS said.

The number of excess dates rose sharply at the start of the coronavirus pandemic but had slowed again by February, when vaccinations started. It has, however, been rising again since August when coronavirus cases started to go up again.

The CBS did not say the rise in excess deaths is connected to coronavirus, although this is likely to be the case.

The official coronavirus death rate in the Netherlands now stands at 18,863, but that figure only includes people who have been tested for coronavirus and whose death was reported to the public health institute RIVM.

Earlier this month, the CBS said the true death toll is likely to be over 31,000.