There are now more than 2,500 coronavirus patients in hospital. 488 are in intensive care and 2052 are in the nursing department. Last Tuesday there were 385 and 1686 respectively.

The number of new people who ended up in hospital with the coronavirus also increased again, by 30 percent. The number of new IC admissions increased by 29 percent. The institute has recorded 265 deaths, which is also a significant increase.

Varies by region

There are regional differences in hospital admissions. In the past calendar week, compared to the population in the region, most COVID-19 patients were admitted to hospitals in the regions of Southern Limburg, Northern Limburg, Brabant Zuidwest, Southern Gelderland and Freslin.

In addition to the number of hospital admissions, the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise sharply. 150,678 new infections were recorded last week, which is again the highest number measured by the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment in a week. The previous record was broken by injury last week. Then there were more than 110,000 positive results.

39% higher

The number of positive tests is 39 percent higher than last week. It’s the seventh week in a row that the number of new cases has risen by nearly 40 percent. Since the beginning of October, the number of positive tests has increased tenfold.

The number of infections this week may differ slightly from the actual number, because RIVM was dealing with a major failure. But there is certainly a significant increase.

With nearly one in five infections (21.5 percent), children ages 5 to 14 are the most positive group on tests. One in four children tested positive. Just as before, the International Institute for Risk Management tells the OMT that no measures specifically targeting children should yet be taken.

It usually takes some time before the infection also leads to hospitalization or interstitial cystitis. Thus, the consequences of the current high number of infections on hospitals are not yet visible. But based on previous periods, it seems reasonable that the pressure on hospitals will increase in the coming days.

The Dutch Health Care Authority (NZa) announced today that a growing number of Dutch hospitals are no longer able to provide all the care needed within six weeks to prevent health damage to patients. Fourteen hospitals are now no longer able to provide this “planned critical care” on time. Last Thursday, there were still twelve hospitals.

Black code nearby?

The Professional Association of Nurses and Caregivers of the Netherlands (V&VN) yesterday indicated that the black symbol is near, because the number of Corona patients in hospitals continues to rise and staff are suspended due to Corona or the workload. With the “black code”, regular medical care cannot be provided at all. Only then will acute care be provided.

Health Minister Hugo de Jong and head of the National Acute Care Network Ernst Kuipers said earlier this week that hospitals are still far from a black-out scenario. However, some hospitals are preparing for the situation in which the so-called triage must take place. Caregivers then decide which patients will receive care and which will not.

Warning for new measures

According to the RIVM, it will only be clear next week if the latest Corona measures, such as covering the mouth in public places, can slow the numbers. What is clear, says Ernst Kuipers, is that the numbers have to come down, or else new measures will be needed.

Earlier this week, outgoing Prime Minister Rutte made an urgent appeal to everyone to better adhere to the essential measures. Otherwise, the government may not be able to wait with additional measures until December 3, the day the next “weighing moment” is currently planned.