BRUSSELS, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Six more people were infected by the novel coronavirus in the Netherlands, bringing the total confirmed cases to 24, according to the Dutch National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) on Tuesday.

Most of the confirmed cases were closely related to the affected area in northern Italy. Some had recently returned from the region, while others had been infected by their family member who had been there.

RIVM said it was still investigating the sources of other infection cases which are not related to Italy.

On Feb. 27, the first patient was diagnosed with the new coronavirus in the Netherlands. He had visited northern Italy.