Dutch patients transferred to Germany as hospitals struggle with COVID-19

By Selman Aksunger

AMSTERDAM (AA) - The Netherlands Healthcare Authority (NZa) on Tuesday announced that 14 of 73 hospitals across the country were unable to provide necessary treatment for COVID-19 patients amid a lack of bed vacancies.

"Important surgeries" in many hospitals have been postponed due to the coronavirus, with bed capacities filling up, the NZa said in a statement, adding that it was stopping 49 hospitals from carrying out planned operations and treatments.

Meanwhile, the Dutch National Coordination Center for Patient Distribution (LCPS) said two COVID-19 patients were transferred to hospitals in Germany due the rapid filling of beds.

LCPS official Monique Jacobs told Dutch television network NOS that though coronavirus cases are surging in Germany, 20 more beds remain reserved for Dutch patients at hospitals there.

As the number of coronavirus infections in the Netherlands has been on the rise since October, the total number of cases has been hovering above the 20,000 mark through the last week.

At least 23,039 people were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 24 hours in the Netherlands.

The country has introduced a mandatory 1.5-meter social distance measure as of Wednesday to curb the spread of the virus, with a fine of €95 ($107) for violators.​​​​​​​