The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Netherlands rose by six to 24 on Tuesday, health board officials said.

All six are being treated at home.

Nearly all the Dutch patients so far have been in northern Italy or are family members of another patient and health officials are still trying to trace the source of the other infections, the public health institute RIVM said.

According to local broadcaster Omroep Brabant, one of the new cases is that of a women from Eindhoven who had been visiting family in northern Italy. Earlier local media said a person in Haarlem and a five-year-old child from Alphen aan den Rijn were among the new patients.

Cabinet ministers are currently holding a ‘crisis’ meeting to discuss how to manage the outbreak if it becomes much worse.

According to broadcaster NOS, health minister Ank Bijleveld has been looking into a role for the army if the virus spreads. An army barracks is already being used as quarantine for people who have returned to the Netherlands from China.

Coronavirus in the Netherlands, what you need to know

Social affairs minister Wouter Koolmees, meanwhile, has been charged with administering a scheme allowing companies to temporarily lay off staff if the crisis is having an impact on company operations – such as shops, hotels and airlines.

So far 316 companies have asked for permission to reduce staff working hours – the wages of those whose jobs are cut back will be made up from social security funds.

On Tuesday, holiday airline Transavia said it was scrapping 22 flights to Italy between March 17 and April 22 because of a downturn in bookings and an increase in cancellations.

*The total was revised down on Tuesday afternoon by the RIVM after the positive result for a child was reconsidered following two negative tests. The test concerns the youngest child of the family from Diemen.