A total of 6,473 new coronavirus infections were reported to the public health institute RIVM in the 24 hours to Friday morning, up 179 on Thursday’s total.

Nevertheless, the number of positive tests on a weekly basis is down 17% on the previous seven day period at 8,083.

However, hospital admissions continue to rise. There are now 477 people being treated for coronavirus in hospital, of whom 107 are in an intensive care ward, national patient monitoring service LCPS said.

An average of 60 people a day have been admitted to hospital for the past seven days.