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Fair at the beginning of October in Nijmegen: 3G proof only before visiting restaurants
Photo:
Ana Fernandez / imago images / ZUMA Wire
After extensive corona easing, the Netherlands is struggling with a sharp increase in new infections.
The number of patients is also increasing in the country's hospitals.
In the past seven days, the number of new infections rose by 44 percent compared to the previous week, as the responsible Reich Institute for Health and Environment (RIVM) announced.
A good 25,700 cases were reported, the seven-day incidence is 151 according to the RIVM.
Because of the new wave of Covid, several hospitals are already being forced to restrict regular health care in order to cope with the increasing number of cases in clinics and intensive care units.
For example, operations had to be canceled again.
Masks are now only required in local transport
The number of deaths also increased.
In the past seven days, 48 Covid-19-related deaths have been reported - almost twice as many as in the previous week.
The authority sees a direct connection with the easing of the measures about three weeks ago.
The distance rule of 1.5 meters was repealed.
Masks only have to be worn in public transport.
Proof of having been tested, vaccinated or recovered is only required before visiting restaurants.
Last week, the Netherlands registered the largest increase in new infections since mid-July - the number rose by 62 percent.
According to the authorities, most of the new infections were registered in large cities.
There were also a lot of infections in regions with devout Protestants - the so-called Biblebelt of the country.
Many Orthodox Calvinists refuse to be vaccinated.
This week, too, a particularly large number of people who had not been vaccinated were infected.
"Most of the Covid patients have not been vaccinated," said the RIVM.
About 80 percent of current Covid patients would not have been immunized against an infection with the coronavirus.
apr / dpa / Reuters