Coronavirus infections showed a slight fall on Monday after three days of slower rises, according to the latest daily update by the public health agency RIVM.

Another 8,015 new cases were notified by local health boards in the 24 hours to 10am, the third highest number since the outbreak began but 162 fewer than on Sunday.

The figure also represents a 17.1% rise in the past seven days, the smallest weekly increase since the first week of September.

Another 86 Covid-19 patients were reported in hospital, bringing the total number to 1,738, the national patient distribution service reported. There are currently 379 patients in intensive care.

In the last seven days an average of 25 patients are reported to have died with the virus, compared to 19 a week ago. Deaths are likely to keep rising for two to three weeks after the infection rate starts to fall.

The highest concentrations of infections is in the major cities, with 543 new cases in Rotterdam, 539 in Amsterdam and 313 in Utrecht.