News from the Netherlands As expected our semi lockdown has been extended to May 20th (full story below) The Netherlands will start reopening primary schools and daycare centres from May 11 but organised events remain banned until September 1, prime minister Mark Rutte told a news conference on Tuesday evening. ‘This is the maximum we can do at the moment,’ Rutte told reporters. In particular, relaxing the social distancing rules too quickly will lead to a second wave of infections which needs to be averted. ‘These are difficult considerations but it’s a question of better safe than sorry,’ Rutte said. ‘We have to be very cautious.’ The decision to reopen schools is based on a wide range of research which shows that young children are unlikely to pass on the virus or develop serious symptoms themselves, according to Jaap van Dissel, head of the public health institute RIVM. ‘There are no clusters in which schools would appear to be a hot spot,’ Van Dissel said. ‘And the closure of the schools has had no impact on the spread.’ Teachers will have the right to be tested for the virus if they have symptoms. Sports Young children will also be allowed to resume taking parts in team sports, but without formal matches which pose a bigger risk of spreading the virus. The under-18s may also take part in team sport training again, provided they keep to the 1.5 metre rule. ‘But this means no parents watching, and showering at home,’ Rutte said. In addition, he said, officials will look at the options to make sure youngsters who are not members of a club can also join in organised sports. The ban on events is being extended from June 1 to September 1, because ‘we can’t cope with the risks,’ Rutte said. ‘This means no professional football until September 1,’ the prime minister said. ‘We cannot avoid having to make this sacrifice.’ The Dutch football association KNVB had hoped to resume training next month in preparation for completing the season before the beginning of August. Nursing homes Visits to nursing homes remain banned because of the risk to the most vulnerable people in society, Rutte said, adding that experts have been asked to look into the options for relaxing this rule. In addition, more research is also being carried out into the use of face masks and gloves in professions which involve physical contact, but in the meantime hairdressers, manicurists and physiotherapists cannot do their jobs, the prime minister said. Basic rules Rutte stressed that the main rules – working home and staying home as much as possible, as well as maintaining a 1.5 metre distance from others – remain paramount. ‘These basic rules have brought us to where we are today,’ he said. ‘This is a virus. The only thing we really know is that the 1.5 metre rule reduces the risk of Covid-19 spreading.’ The basic social distancing rules will be extended until May 20 and in the week prior to that, ministers will decide if they need to be extended further. ‘And we will keep a close eye on developments and remain alert,’ Rutte said. Beating coronavirus is all about working together, the prime minister said. ‘The freedom of one person cannot be at the expense of the health of another.’ Asked if people could safely book summer holidays, Rutte said: ‘Personally, I have cancelled a few things and am booking nothing. It is up to individuals themselves. But we cannot see more than three weeks ahead.’ Read more at DutchNews.nl:
What more do we need to know at the moment. They have locked us down for another three weeks after which they will review the situation again ? They have set out what criteria needs to be met for us to exit from our current status. Seems like a plan as far as plans go.
If that’s a plan To call that “A Plan” must be using the loosest possible definition of Plan. Good plans go something like ‘Setting out detailed proposals of what you’re going to do’ Ken.
Ok, so what will you do with all of this additional information that you seek? Just asking, cause at the moment we cannot do anything other than stay home, with limited outings within the guidelines.
What’s the use of releasing any form of a plan to the public when no one knows what the state of affairs with the virus will be like in a few weeks or months. Maybe you have a crystal ball Ken and can tell us,not predict, what it will be like in a few weeks/months time and that’s why you need to know what the plan will be.
Luckily we were briefed on a 4 level system we will operate in for the foreseeable future. We went from level 2 to 3 with a weeks notice of moving to 4. After 4 weeks, and new cases dropping to single figures, we have been told we will go to level 3 next week. Not much of a change for many working from home, but business can start contactless sales, including restaurants and takeaway, that have suffered no business.
That’s great for you guys. At least you can start living life a bit more normally again. Sadly, here we’re far from being at the stage of having single figure cases so I can totally understand why we’ve not got an exit strategy from the lockdown yet.
Of course the risk is we may return to level 4, if only regionally, as winter hits and cases increase (again)??
Totally agree. If the government releases a plan and things change, then the plan has to change. So then the BBC and all the other twat journos start whining and whinging even more than they do already.
It would be that light at the end of the tunnel we hear about and might give some people (The ones that might be finding it not as easy to cope as others) a little of that feel good factor. Even if they fabricate it. Ken.
Wessa said, cause (sic) at the moment we cannot do anything other than stay home, Surely a plan would allow to to think a little bit further than that? Ken.
From Dartplayer’s post, I would say they were given a ‘Plan’ and they are working to it. They didn’t just spring it on them when they went to single figure deaths. Still think our leaders could come up with something more informative than the daily poop we are getting. Ken.
It won’t only be the BBC and the journo knobheads, there will be some peeps who will be beating the political drum trying to score points.
If they who ever they are fabricate it, it I guess is the feel good factor and things don’t transpire then I bet you’ll be beating the political drum slagging they off.
