The number of corona infections is currently increasing significantly, as can be seen from the number of virus particles in Amsterdam sewage water. According to the RIVM, 3255 particles per 100,000 people were found last week. It is the second highest number ever measured.
Because most people no longer test at the GGD or at home when they have complaints, the RIVM examines sewage water to monitor the coronavirus. If you are infected with the coronavirus, there are often virus particles in your stool. For example, a possible revival of corona can be recognized in time.
Amsterdam has five treatment plants and a total of nine measurements were taken there last week. The largest amount of particles was found at the treatment plant near Weesp, and the fewest particles were found at the Westpoort plant.
The number of virus particles has risen sharply since the week of November 12, even by 20 percent last week. Last week’s measurement is even the second highest ever measured. Only in the week of July 17, 2022, more virus particles were found in the water, namely 3354.
Hospitals notice it too
At both the OLVG and the Amsterdam UMC, which includes the AMC and the VUmc, they are seeing an increase in the number of patients with corona. The hospitals do make a comment: corona is now often discovered in patients who are in hospital due to another condition. The alarm bells are not ringing yet, but the OLVG says it is monitoring the development ‘very closely’. “It is a different situation than during the corona wave.”
Hospitals generally see an increase in the number of patients with the flu, something that always occurs at the end of the year. “Before Covid, it was also regularly the case that there was a great pressure on beds during the flu season,” said a spokesperson for the UMC.
GGD sees the same picture
The same picture emerges at the GGD. According to a spokesperson, the number of infections of so-called respiratory viruses, such as corona and the flu, increases in the autumn and winter. This is because many more people are indoors because of the cold and diseases are easily spread through the air. The GGD is therefore not raising the alarm.
The fact that the number of infections is now rising rapidly does not mean that we will soon be in a lockdown again, for example because hospitals are experiencing problems again. Due to vaccinations and the fact that most have already been infected with the virus, the body has built up defenses. In addition, the current variant that is circulating is a lot less pathogenic than previous variants. However, the advice is still: stay at home if you are sick or have mild complaints.
2023-12-14 15:32:00
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