There has been a further drop in the number of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus and fewer nursing home residents have also been infected, according to the weekly update from public health institute RIVM.

In total, 341 people were hospitalised because they had coronavirus and a further 85 were found to have the virus when they were admitted with another health issue. This is down 26% on a week ago. Intensive care admissions also fell 33% to 33.

The number of people testing positive at a regional health service centre fell 30% while 34% fewer nursing home residents were diagnosed with coronavirus.

In addition, the key R or reproduction rate, which lags the infection rate by two weeks, fell to 0.79, the RIVM said.

The Netherlands launched a new campaign to encourage people to top up their vaccination status in mid September and by the end of October, just 19% of the general population have done so, according to the government’s coronavirus dashboard.

However, 49% of the over-60s have had another vaccine dose.