💸 Have a friend who needs a new bank account? Connect them with ING and earn €50!

Hello sunshine, goodbye coronavirus: Dutch virologist expects drop in infections

- Advertisement -

After a cold and rainy April, we can finally look forward to well-deserved sunshine and temperatures above 20 degrees. Spring weather is officially coming and it’s bringing some light back into our lives — in more ways than one. 

According to Louis Kroes, a virologist at the LUMC in Leiden, “spring, together with vaccinations and the accompanying immunity, will lead to a huge decrease in the number of coronavirus infections.” This means that in a short while, hospitals should be out of trouble.

We’re already seeing a decrease in the number of coronavirus patients in hospitals now. Yesterday there were 2,600 patients hospitalised with coronavirus. Two days earlier, the number was at 2,700, according to RTL Nieuws.  

Turning point

If the temperatures keep climbing up, this could be the beginning of a more permanent decline. “In the winter, people spend a lot of time inside, closer to each other, and in rooms that are not or hardly ventilated. Optimal conditions for the transmission of the virus,” says Kroes. 

When the weather gets warmer, everything changes. Virologists observe similar seasonal effects in for example influenza virus, where the number of infections drops when the temperatures increase. 

Care-free summer?

Kroes adds that we’ve reached a turning point but we still need to be patient. “We now see that many young people are becoming infected. Their mortality is very low but it does generate a lot of work for hospitals.” 

- Advertisement -

If things turn out well, maybe we can actually get that measures-free summer that the Dutch government has been promising. 

Are you excited to hear this news? Do you think we’ll be able to enjoy summer to the fullest? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Bewakoof.com Official/Unsplash

- Advertisement -
Jana Vondráčková 🇨🇿
Jana Vondráčková 🇨🇿
Originally from the Czech Republic, Jana moved to the Netherlands for her studies. Seven years in the flattest country in Europe has brought her a Masters in Environmental Management, experience in content creation, projects, partnership coordination, and about 20 ideas on how to deal with Dutch winter blues (most of which didn’t work). Her love for the local cycling culture is undying — but she finally knows better than to hop on a bike in a typical Dutch downpour.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related posts

Latest posts

eSIMs in the Netherlands: The ultimate 2025 guide + the best options

eSIMs offer the best of both worlds: you get all the perks of a regular SIM card, plus the freedom of data roaming —...

The best edibles in Amsterdam: The ultimate guide for 2025

Edibles in Amsterdam are a rite of passage — and if you’re curious about the highs of Dutch culture (pun intended), skipping the smoke...

Smoking weed in Amsterdam: ultimate guide [Updated 2025]

If you're heading to the Netherlands, chances are you want to smoke weed in Amsterdam — right?  Of course, before you light up your green...

It's happening

Upcoming events