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Pressure on hospitals But there was relief among hospital staff, who learned with dismay last week that the government wanted to ease restrictions while nearly three-quarters of intensive care beds are occupied by coronavirus patients. On Sunday, 8,288 new infections were reported, the highest daily number in two weeks, while more than 2,500 people are being treated in hospital for the virus, including 788 in intensive care. Ad Melkert, chairman of the board of the Dutch hospital association NVZ, said, "This is difficult for people who had hoped or counted on the restrictions being eased. But they are still necessary, because our hospitals need everyone. First we need to get the virus under control, vaccinate more people and ease the pressure on the hospitals. Then we can slowly but surely get back to normal, but I think it will take a few more weeks.'