With Coronavirus regulations likely to be further loosened by the Dutch government in the coming weeks, the North seems to be emerging from the third wave
By Thomas Ansell
The third wave of the Coronavirus seems to be waning in the North, with new infection figures down on the week before in all three Provinces, and a lightening of pressure on hospitals. In Friesland, week-on-week hospital admissions have fallen by 21 (per the Omrop Fryslân); to 58.
In terms of new infection figures, Drenthe recorded 75 new infections yesterday: a week ago it was 152. In Friesland, there were 152 positive tests yesterday, a little up on the day before, but down from 217 on May 4. Meanwhile, in Groningen, there was quite a large daily rise in infection rates (up 60), but this seems to be bucking a general downward trend, with over 160 recorded last week on the same day.
Across the region, pressure on hospitals is falling, too, with no new hospital admission in Drenthe, four new hospitalisations in Groningen, and six new admissions in Friesland.
Should numbers continue to fall, the Dutch government will move to ‘step two’ of its re-opening plan, which would allow indoor sports facilities, and places like zoos and theme parks to re-open, as well as further opening pub and restaurant terraces until 20:00 each day. A final decision will be made next week, with hospital admissions numbers having to have fallen by 20 percent from their peak in April.
