US Doctor Fauci criticises Dutch approach, majority of Dutch OMT team pushed for stricter measures

The measures announced in a press conference last night were not entirely supported by the Outbreak Management Team (OMT). Instead, the majority of the OMT wanted stricter measures implemented on a national scale. 

That’s what Andreas Voss, professor of infection prevention and member of the OMT, told NOS. The cabinet chose to continue to distinguish between different regions, while also implementing some new national measures.

“For the sake of clarity of the citizen, I would have appreciated it if everyone supported one policy,” Voss said on Nieuwsuur.

A rule for widespread mandatory face-masks was notably missing from the latest measures announced last night, although the three biggest cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague recommend wearing face masks in shops. OMT members were reportedly divided over the advice.

“I think you should have done that nationally and not only in the big cities,” said Voss. “Besides: which big cities? Nijmegen is not mentioned. There are also many infections there.”

Fauci steps in

Meanwhile, the prominent American doctor and director for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci, has commented on the Dutch approach to face masks — with confusion over the lack thereof.

Fauci advised the director of RIVM, Jaap van Dissel, “to look at the rapidly increasing amount of data on the importance and effectiveness of masks.” Van Dissel has commented several times that non-medical face masks barely stop virus particles, giving the wearer a false sense of security.

“Regardless of the country, I would advise people to seriously consider wearing masks to prevent transmission,” Fauci said. “Enough information indicates that masks are very beneficial in preventing transmission and getting an infection.”

What do you think of the latest measures introduced by the Dutch government? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Feature Image: The White House/Flickr/Public Domain

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺https://gallivantations.com
Sam has over six years experience writing about life in the Netherlands and leads the content team at DutchReview. She originally came to the Netherlands to study in 2016 and now holds a BA (Hons.) in Arts, a BA (Hons) in Journalism, and (almost) a Masters in Teaching. She loves to write about settling into life in the Netherlands, her city of Utrecht, learning Dutch, and jobs in the Netherlands — and she still can’t jump on the back of a moving bike (she's learning!).

3 COMMENTS

  1. It’s mind boggling why the Dutch government doesn’t recommend all citizens to wear masks to help prevent the spreading of this virus. Maybe they are afraid many people will be robbing banks. Jap van Dissel is irresponsible by saying masks basically don’t work. They have been proven to work. It may not be the perfect solution, but it helps. We will be wearing masks until there is a safe and effective vaccine. Denk aan anderen en niet alleen aan jezelf.

  2. If the masks would work the problem should have being way smaller by now
    Country’s were they do in force the masks arnt looking better and I have seen it in theme parks people without masks keep distance people with masks are so close to others that it shows that they have a false sense of security

  3. Go to Italy and you will see a lot of people wearing a mask even outside. Look now at numbers in Italy of infected people and decide

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