The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Netherlands has passed 10,000, health authorities said, but added that the rise in deaths and hospitalisations continued to show signs of slowing, Reuters said.

In its daily update, the Netherlands' National Institute for Health (RIVM) said confirmed cases rose by 1,104 to 10,866 — an 11 per cent increase. There were 132 new deaths, bringing the number of fatalities to 771.

But because health authorities are testing mostly only the very sick and healthcare workers for the virus, the real number of infections is likely to be far higher, the RIVM said.