Wednesday 12 August 2020

A coronavirus risk? Compulsory quarantine comes in next week

A coronavirus risk? Compulsory quarantine comes in next week

People identified as possible coronavirus carriers during track and trace investigations and those returning from risky countries abroad will now face compulsory quarantine until they have been tested, health minister Hugo de Jonge has announced. In particular, the requirement is to be brought in for people identified as having been in close contact with a coronavirus patient, following mounting refusals to follow the voluntary guidelines. ‘Over the past few weeks we have been hearing that people are not cooperating with... More >

Dutch say no to face masks again

Dutch say no to face masks again

The Netherlands has no plans to make non-medical face masks compulsory because there is no scientific evidence to prove they work, government officials said on Wednesday. Masks are compulsory in shops and indoors in many parts of Europe, but in the Netherlands they are only required on public transport. ‘The 1.5 metre rule is the most important measure we have,’ healthcare minister Tamara van Ark told reporters. ‘From a medical point of view, there is no reason to introduce a... More >

Ministers to decide on face masks today

Ministers to decide on face masks today

Ministers will on Wednesday discuss new recommendations by its coronavirus advisory team OMT about whether or not to boost the use of face masks in the Netherlands, but sources have told broadcaster NOS there will not be nationwide regulations. Prime minister Mark Rutte said on Facebook on Tuesday that ministers will brief MPs on their decision later in the day after talks with various official committees. However, NOS reports that masks will not become compulsory in shops and outside spaces... More >

Coronavirus has become visible: minister

Coronavirus has become visible: minister

Coronavirus in the Netherlands has become visible and that is making it possible to intervene in a ‘timely and focused’ way, Dutch health minister Hugo de Jonge has told MPs. ‘We got the virus under control together and we will have to keep it under control together,’ De Jonge said in a briefing to MPs on Tuesday. New figures published on Tuesday show the number of infections in the Netherlands is rising in absolute terms, although experts suggest this may... More >

Waiting times for Covid test too long

Waiting times for Covid test too long

Coronavirus test delays have prompted local health boards to ramp up their testing facilities but not all are up to speed as infection rates increase, public broadcaster NOS has found. In the provinces of Noord-Brabant, Zeeland, Gelderland, Flevoland and Noord and Zuid-Holland people who wanted a test in the last ten days had to wait over 24 hours while in Rotterdam, which currently has the highest number of infections, waiting times were as high as 52 hours. In many instances... More >

Positive coronavirus tests reach seven-week high, but hospital admissions are down

Positive coronavirus tests reach seven-week high, but hospital admissions are down

The number of new coronavirus cases in the Netherlands rose by 214 on Sunday – the highest daily increase since June 7, according to new official figures. There has been a slight upward trend in the number of new infections in the Netherlands in recent days, and requests for tests have been rising at a rate of around 1,000 a day, website Nu.nl reported at the weekend. At the same time, the number of people being treated in hospital for... More >

Farming groups upset about cow feed plans

Farming groups upset about cow feed plans

Two Dutch farming associations have walked out of talks with the government about controlling the level of nitrogen-based pollutants in manure. LTO Nederland and young farmers’ group the NAJK have said that they will no longer take part in discussions about the protein levels of cattle feed until expert reports have been completed, reports NOS. Environment minister Carola Schouten has said she would put the government proposal and counter proposals to the environmental assessment agency Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving, to... More >

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