Fifteen new patients with COVID-19, a total of 38 positive tests
On March 3, 15 new patients were reported to RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment . This brings the total number of positive tests to 38. Four of the new patients were admitted to the hospital. The other 11 are under home isolation. One of these patients lives abroad, was on transit in the Netherlands and receives care in a temporary accommodation.
Most of the people diagnosed with the novel coronavirus are people who have been in Northern Italy or are family contacts of a previous patient. For a few patients, the source of the infection is still unknown and the investigation is ongoing. The GGD's have started contact investigations.
Measures in hospitals
Some of the patients are in a hospital. The hospitals track down their contacts inside and outside the hospital with the GGD. The hospital will announce if measures have to be taken within the hospital.
Avoid non-essential travel to Northern Italy
Many of the new patients have recently been to Northern Italy. In several Northern Italian provinces, there is a widespread circulation of the novel coronavirus. People travelling in Northern Italy are therefore more likely to become infected with the coronavirus. Travellers can take the virus back to the Netherlands unnoticed. That is why the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has updated its travel advice for Northern Italy to essential travel only.