A further 10,353 positive coronavirus tests were registered with public health institute RIVM in the 24 hours to Monday morning, but it is difficult to assess whether cases are continuing to rise, given the weekend’s computer problems.

On Friday the RIVM received 10,007 notifications but Saturday’s numbers were incomplete due to IT issues. Saturday and Sunday’s average was 9,438 but ‘it is unclear if all the missing numbers have been processed,’ a spokesman told broadcaster NOS on Monday.

The agency will give more details on Tuesday when it publishes its weekly overview of developments. This will also include an update of the crucial R number, which indicates how fast the virus is spreading.

The national patient distribution centre LCPS said on Monday that 291 coronavirus patients had been admitted to regular hospital wards over the past 24 hours, and 49 people, many who were already hospitalised, were taken to intensive care wards.

The new admissions take the number of coronavirus patients currently being treated in hospital to 2,249, up 102 in 24 hours.

LCPS chairman Ernst Kuipers told reporters on Monday he expects 2,500 people to be in hospital with coronavirus by the end of the month, and does not expect any drop in the number of infections in the coming two weeks.

‘If we go on as we are, we will need to take additional measures,’ he said. Some 20% to 30% of regular hospital treatment requiring an overnight stay has been cancelled so that hospitals can cope with the influx of coronavirus patients, he said.