The weekly report from the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and Environment) reveals that, since the update last week, another 3.597 people in the Netherlands have tested positive for COVID-19, the illness that is caused by the new coronavirus. This means that the new total of infected people is 71.129.

Coronavirus situation in the Netherlands

Of the 71.129 people infected, another 24 people have died since last Tuesday*, August 25, bringing the death toll to 6.230. In total, 12.182 (+57) patients have been admitted to hospital. As not all people are getting tested, the true number of people infected with the new coronavirus is higher than reported. 

*There may be a delay between the day of death and the day that it is reported.

**Not all the patients reported tested positive, were hospitalised, or died in the past week. Some figures are only reported much later. The data from previous weeks is therefore supplemented to include them. 

Coronavirus press conference

On Monday, August 31, a government press conference was announced. It will be held on Tuesday at 7 pm. 

At the last press conference, which took place on August 18, Prime Minister Mark Rutte introduced limits for at-home gatherings in the hopes that would limit the further spread of the virus and prevent a second wave. 

At the press conference on Tuesday, it is expected he and Health Minister Hugo de Jonge will discuss the measures in place for nightclubs. It was initially planned that nightclubs would be allowed to reopen from September 1, however rising infection rates mean this will be pushed back. 

It is also expected that Rutte and De Jonge will examine the progress that has been made since the initial outbreak six months ago, and how the Netherlands is faring in comparison to neighbouring countries.

Coronavirus app delayed 

The launch date coronavirus app, CoronaMelder, developed by the Dutch government to assist the GGD in contact tracing has been pushed back. The app was supposed to launch nationally on September 1, however on Monday it was announced by de Jonge that the launch will be delayed as the app was still not ready. 

The app is already available to download, however it is not fully functional. It is not yet known when the app will become available for nation-wide use.