After months of fighting to keep hospital admissions as low as possible, figures from National Coordination Centre for Patient Distribution (LCPS) revealed over the weekend that the number of coronavirus patients being treated in Dutch hospitals has reached the highest point since the beginning of June. 

Rising number of infections and hospitalisations in the Netherlands

On October 24, a total of 748 COVID-19 patients were occupying hospital beds in the Netherlands, 185 of which were being treated in intensive care. This marks an increase of over 100 patients compared to last Tuesday, and the highest number since June 11, when the total number of coronavirus hospital patients was 729.

The number of daily infections reported by the National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM) also continues to rise: in the 24 hours to Sunday, 6.350 new cases were reported, the highest number since July 23. Last Sunday, 3.662 cases of COVID-19 were reported.

Dutch government faces mounting pressure to tackle coronavirus

The Dutch government is once again facing increasing pressure to take action against the rising figures. The Labour Party (PvdA) is calling on the Outbreak Management Team (OMT) to issue new advice as soon as possible in response to the rising number of infections. 

Medical experts are also calling for action. On Saturday, various hospital directors from across the country told Trouw the government must do more to prevent the further spread of the virus and “ensure that hospitals get through the winter without an overload.” 

On Sunday, Diederik Gommers said that, in the worst-case scenario, the Netherlands had a total of 1.350 intensive care beds available, but that hundreds would have to be kept free for other urgent care. “If we get more than 650 coronavirus patients in the ICU, then we are dealing with code black,” he warned BNR.