The monkey pox virus remains spreading quickly in the Netherlands† But the number of corona infections is also relatively high. Not good news to digest, but luckily there is also a bright spot. RIVM thinks that the top of the corona wave is in sight.
Between yesterday morning and this morning, 7308 corona infections came to light. That’s the highest number of positive tests in one day since April 9, nearly three months ago. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) only registers test results from GGD locations and not self-tests, so the real number may be higher.
Corona infections almost on top of wave
Fortunately, the coronavirus is spreading less and less quickly. 40,226 confirmed infections have been passed on in the past seven days. That is just under 10 percent more than in the week before. It is the slowest weekly increase since June 1, at the start of the current summer wave. Because the line is therefore becoming flatter, RIVM suspects that the top of the wave is in sight.
And then the monkeypox virus. Fifty more people have tested positive in recent days. The total number of confirmed infections has thus risen to 402. Last Monday, the counter of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) stood at 352 cases.
Concerns about upcoming pride events
114 infections have come to light in the past seven days. That is almost the fastest weekly increase since the monkeypox virus first appeared in the Netherlands. The number of cases has doubled in two weeks.
Among the people who have contracted the virus is a child of primary school age. It is not known how that child became infected, but according to the RIVM there is no suspicion of abuse. The virus spreads through skin-to-skin contact, which can happen in ways other than sex.
More intensive distribution possible
The other infected people are men, and most of them are men who have sex with men. It was previously announced that some of the infected men have been to the Darklands Festival in Belgium. This fetish festival was identified as a possible fire source.
RIVM warned last week that the upcoming pride events in Amsterdam and other cities could lead to “more intensive distribution” of the monkeypox virus in the Netherlands. The most famous pride in the Netherlands, Pride Amsterdam, is held from July 30 to August 7. At the end of July there are also Pink Wednesday in Nijmegen, Pink Monday in Tilburg, Pride Amersfoort and the Milkshake Festival in Amsterdam.
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