The Omicron variant of coronavirus is now dominant in the Netherlands, public health institute RIVM said on Tuesday.

The variant now accounts for over than 50% of new cases, the RIVM said in its latest weekly update.

The number of positive coronavirus cases reported to the RIVM fell 11% to 84,400 in the past week, but experts say this is likely to rise as Omicron spreads.

In the previous seven day period, the number of positive cases was down 19%.

The government brought in new measures on December 19 in an effort to brake the spread of Omicron and give the booster campaign time to take effect. Schools were also closed a week earlier than planned.

This may have had an impact on the new figures, because people in their 20s now account for most new infections, not school-aged children.

Most positive tests were recorded in Amsterdam – 627 per 100,000, compared with the national average of 482. Amsterdam’s regional health board said last week that Omicron was dominant in the capital.

There are currently 2,006 coronavirus patients in hospital, a decline of 15% week on week but the number of new admissions was down 26%, the RIVM said. Of them 535 are being treated in an intensive care ward.