With cases rising in all three Provinces, the decision to keep regulations over the Christmas period seems to have been prescient
By Thomas Ansell
The Coronavirus Pandemic continues its second wave in the North, with the promising figures of the last few weeks wiped out by rises this week. With the announcement of no relaxation of measures over the Christmas period, it remains to be seen whether the Coronavirus can be kept under control this winter.
Groningen
As can be seen on the Coronavirus Dashboard for Groningen, the most populous Northern Province is no longer an island of falling cases in the Netherlands. 95 more positive tests were recorded today compared to yesterday (total: 196), and the City of Groningen now has 60 cases (in raw figures). Of more concern is the Appingedam region, which though having a small number of cases (10), has an extremely high concentration of cases (85.9 per 100,000 residents).
7.7 percent of tests carried out in the Province in the last 2 weeks have come back positive, with the level rising consistently since the start of November.
Friesland
The situation is scarcely better in Friesland, with 164 positive tests recorded yesterday (up 29 from the day before). The number of positive cases per 100,000 people is at its highest since October, and the Súdwest-Fryslân area (around Sneek) is seemingly a glowing hotspot; with 46 new cases yesterday, and a concentration of 51 cases per 100,000 residents.
Currently 8.1 percent of tests carried out in the Province in the last 2 weeks have come back positive, with the level only slightly lower than the concentration at the start of October (having dipped slightly during November).
Drenthe
Drenthe is the only Northern Province with somewhat positive results; with cases remaining somewhat level. 136 people tested positive yesterday (up 21 from the day before), however the percentage of positive tests is down by 0.3 percent from two weeks ago.
The Eastern part of the Province near Emmen is a hotspot for the Coronavirus, with 45 people testing positive in the City of Emmen yesterday; a concentration of 42 cases per 100,000 residents.
Of course, it could be worse: in areas of South Holland and Brabant the concentration of cases has risen to as high as 123 infected people per 100,000 residents (in Bergeijk).
Image (screenshot) via the Coronavirus dashboard.
