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Dutch cabinet to discuss new measures: here’s what’s on the table

Nicole Ogden 🇹🇭 🇺🇸
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Dutch cabinet to discuss new measures: here’s what’s on the table

With potential new measures on the horizon, there’s been talk about whether schools should close their doors or not. The Outbreak Management Team (OMT) has advised the cabinet to keep the education sector open.

According to the NOS, MPs are discussing potential new measures in the Cathuis this afternoon as a response to the record number of rising coronavirus infections and a potential code black scenario.

Some of these measures include possibly shutting down schools, gyms, hairdressers, and other businesses.

OMT advice

However, the OMT has advised the cabinet against shutting down schools, despite the high number of infections in educational institutions.

They believe that doing so would have harmful effects on students. 👩🏼‍🎓

The cabinet must still decide whether they will listen to the OMT’s advice or enforce the closure of schools anyway.

Looming press conference

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge will give a press conference tomorrow evening at 19:00 announcing the potential new measures.

What do you think about the possible new measures and the OMT’s advice? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

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Dutch hospital asks employees infected with COVID-19 to continue working

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Dutch hospital asks employees infected with COVID-19 to continue working

Whilst certain cabinet members are of the opinion that a code black scenario is a distant worry, the situation in Zuyderland hospital in South Limburg tells a different story.

The hospital is now under so much pressure that it has asked its employees who are sick with coronavirus to continue working, the NOS reports.

An absoulte emergency measure

Speaking to Nieuwsuur, Hospital director, David Jongen explains that this is an “absolute emergency measure.” Employees who have tested positive for coronavirus but have little or no symptoms are being asked to remain working.

READ MORE | Weekly update: 153,000 infections in one week, could this mean lockdown?

Speaking on whether the hospitals can face a code black situation, Jongen says that “whether it turns code black or brown, it doesn’t matter. We would just have to close the doors, we wouldn’t be able to do it anymore.”

Planned care to be cancelled

Last night, it was also announced that a large part of planned care in the Netherlands will be cancelled for the time being. This will be for a short term only and surgeries that do not require the patient to stay in a hospital bed can continue.

However, in Limburg, the NRC reports that even serious planned care will have to be temporarily cancelled. What counts as serious? Think cancer, brain and heart surgery.

Stay safe out there guys — and remember, if your nose is runny or your throat’s a bit scratchy, try to stay home, build a pillow fort, test yourself, and binge your favourite show.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for the latest news and updates in the Netherlands.

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Time to grab your winter boots — snow is coming to the Netherlands

Christine Stein Hededam 🇩🇰
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Time to grab your winter boots — snow is coming to the Netherlands

This weekend we can expect what Dutchies call natte sneeuw (wet snow). Yup, the Dutch have multiple words for snow and this one essentially means the snow that, though pretty, melts when it hits the ground.

While it’s not time to build a snowman just yet, you may want to dust off the winter boots and grab an umbrella. 🌨️

According to the NOS, it’s still unclear in which parts of the country we can expect snowfall. He says “the showers circulate around the low-pressure area and can end up anywhere in the Netherlands at the moment.” 🤷‍♂️

Wherever the snow ends up falling, you’ll have to enjoy it while it’s still in the air. It’s not quite cold enough and the ground is too warm for it to stay. Better get ready for some slushy roads instead. 😅

What is clear, however, is that a low-pressure area is carrying cold winds from Iceland to the Netherlands, bringing us those nice sub-zero temperatures — brrrr. Night frost is especially likely in the interior parts of the country.

What are your plans for this snowy weekend? Tell us in the comments below!

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‘Helaas’, an ominous coronavirus press conference is heading our way

Farah Al Mazouni 🇸🇾 🇺🇸
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‘Helaas’, an ominous coronavirus press conference is heading our way

As expected, and due to the astronomical coronavirus figures reported yesterday, the Dutch cabinet has announced that there will be a new press conference this Friday — meaning we may be about to see stricter measures.

We certainly didn’t plan on being glued to the TV for another presser so soon, but the Dutch government deemed it necessary for their December 3 conference to be brought forward given the deteriorating coronavirus situation in the Netherlands.

Although this meeting is untraditionally a full week ahead of its schedule according to the NOS, much like any press conference from the past, it’ll likely be proceeded by leaks of some of the main restrictions.

According to Minister De Jonge, “the picture is gloomy and worrying. The changes we want to see are not yet imminent,” reports RTL Nieuws.

Keeping the public on our toes

So far, what we know for sure is that the Dutch Outbreak Management Team (OMT) will be meeting later this evening to discuss and recommend additional coronavirus measures to the Dutch cabinet.

And we have a good idea of where the OMT stands after they sent out a dire warning just yesterday about the importance of following measures.

READ MORE | Experts warn of code black scenario unless Dutch measures are tightened

However, the Dutch government doesn’t always follow the OMT’s recommendations’ to the dot. The decision to bring forward the press conference and meet with the OMT tonight comes in light of a worrying announcement by the Dutch Healthcare Authority’s (NZA).

According to the NZA, Dutch hospitals are can no longer provide all necessary healthcare within a six weeks timeframe to patients in need due to the rising number of coronavirus patients. 

Follow DutchReview on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news from the Netherlands.

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Experts warn of code black scenario unless Dutch measures are tightened

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Experts warn of code black scenario unless Dutch measures are tightened

Yesterday, we wrote about how the OMT had to resort to the use of all caps in order to emphasise the urgency of their advice. Last night, the all caps were ditched and a direct warning was given by health experts.

And what did they say? If the Netherlands doesn’t tighten its restrictions, the country will enter into a code black scenario in 10 days.

And yes, it’s about as bad as it sounds.

What is a code black scenario?

Code black is a status that applies to hospitals. When a hospital enters into a code black scenario, it means that they no longer have any intensive care beds left for new patients.

This means that doctors will be forced to pick and choose who can have an IC bed, and who cannot — a decision that should never have to be made.

Addressing Dutch MPs yesterday, Chairman for the Dutch Union of Intensive Care, Diedrick Gommers, explained that the proposal to increase the number of IC beds in hospitals simply won’t fly. Hospitals are already tackling a staffing shortage due to many staff members needing sick leave, the NOS reports.

Record number of positive coronavirus tests

The GGD experienced a record-breaking percentage of positive PCR tests this week. Of those who found themselves getting that lovely swab shoved up their nose at a test centre, 22% tested positive for coronavirus.

This marks the highest percentage of positive tests that the Netherlands has seen to date. 😬

A hard lockdown next week?

Gommers also advised that the cabinet shift their attention from 2G measures to a hard lockdown starting next week.

However, as far as Dutch Minister for Health, Hugo de Jonge, is concerned, a code black scenario “is still a long way off.”

READ MORE | Weekly update: 153,000 infections in one week, could this mean lockdown?

And he isn’t the only one to dismiss Gommers warning, Ernst Kuipers of the National Coordination Center for Patient Distribution claims that hospital occupancy is similar to last winter’s peak but it is not quite a code black scenario.

What this means for Gommers advice of a hard lockdown, we’ll have to wait and see.

Experts critical of the cabinet’s response

However, experts are not happy with the Dutch cabinet’s response to the rising numbers and the OMT’s warning. According to OMT member Marc Bonten, it’s “incredibly important” that the cabinet make some difficult decisions.

“Look at what it is like in hospitals, look at today’s figures. Look at the figures of recent weeks. Look at the support for the current measures and how they are being implemented. Something has to be done and politicians have to take responsibility for this. Both the cabinet and the parliamentary groups,” he says.

What are your thoughts on the OMT’s warning? Tell us in the comments below!

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Mandatory social distancing is back — and fines along with it

Christine Stein Hededam 🇩🇰
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Mandatory social distancing is back — and fines along with it

With the Netherlands hitting a record number of new infections in one week, the Dutch government has decided to reinstitute the 1,5 metres rule.

Starting today, the streetscape will once again be dominated by stickers reminding you to keep anderhalve meters afstand (one and a half metres distance). As social distancing goes from being urgent advice to a mandatory measure, not adhering will get you a €95 fine, reports NU.nl.

The new measure was announced by the cabinet yesterday “to reduce the sharp increase in the number of corona infections and to prevent further overload on healthcare.”

Exceptions

Unlike last year’s strict measures, this round of social distancing is subject to a (greater) number of exceptions.

You don’t have to keep 1,5 metres distance from your housemates, spouse, children, or anyone else you may share an address with. (Unless you really want to of course. 🤷‍♀️)

READ MORE | Privacy violation: camera cars used to track lockdown breakers

In addition, social distancing isn’t mandatory in places where corona tickets apply. So, if you’ve shown your QR code, you’re fine we guess. Higher and secondary education are also exempt from the rule along with contact professionals, such as hairdressers.

Just don’t forget to bring your mask. 😷

Shops and police need time to adjust

A spokesperson from the trade association INretail tells NU.nl that retailers will adhere to the new measure but need time to set up. Reinstituting the 1,5 metres mandate overnight hasn’t exactly left shops much time to haul in stickers, reorganise aisles, and plan out walking routes. 😅

Although INretail has urged its members to uphold social distancing for weeks, you may see some shops struggling with the new measures today. According to the spokesperson, getting everything ready is especially a challenge for businesses with multiple or large stores.

Similarly, the president of the police union ACP says that due to current “understaffing” law enforcement won’t be able to properly enforce the 1,5 metres distancing immediately. Eventually, he hopes to have more people to enforce the measures. 

What do you think of mandatory social distancing? Tell us in the comments below!

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Weekly update: 153,000 infections in one week, could this mean lockdown?

Farah Al Mazouni 🇸🇾 🇺🇸
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Weekly update: 153,000 infections in one week, could this mean lockdown?

This week, Rutte warned that a stricter lockdown may be brought in if coronavirus infection numbers continue to rise. Unfortunately, it’s looking grim based on the RIVM weekly coronavirus figures from November 16 to November 23.

The number of hospitalisations and ICU admissions have increased while the number of deaths has scaled in the past week.

Over the past week, the RIVM has reported 153,957 new infections in the Netherlands. A substantial increase compared to last week’s report of 110,558 infections.

The percentage of positive tests also increased to 22.2% compared to 19.6% from the week before.

Deaths

The number of patients who have died from coronavirus-related complications has increased in the past week. This week, 265 people passed away, compared to 173 people the previous week.

Hospitalisations

Both the number of admissions to the nursing ward and the ICU has gone up. The past week saw 1,544 new admissions to the nursing ward and 289 new patients in the ICU. The week before, there were 1,173 and 217 respectively.

Dire warning

In light of the recent skyrocketing coronavirus infections, the Dutch Outbreak Management Team (OMT) is warning Dutchies, in all caps and sirens, that adhering to the current coronavirus measures in their light version is “the ONLY WAY” to avoid stricter measures in the future.

The OMT hasn’t expanded on its previous recommendations as of yet — they just want people to do better with the current measures in place to avoid future escalations.

Contamination parties

Yep, they’re two words that you don’t want to hear together. “Contamination parties” are being arranged by groups of people to intentionally infect themselves with the coronavirus. They are doing this in order to receive a proof of recovery certificate that allows them entry into public venues for a year in the Netherlands.

This allows people access to public life without needing to get vaccinated.

QR code for those with medical conditions who cannot receive the vaccine

During a debate about 2G measures, Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge announced that people who can’t be vaccinated due to medical reasons will be able to receive a QR code.

This announcement comes as an effort not to shut unvaccinated people out of public life in the Netherlands.

Keeping busy

Corona babies are apparently everywhere this year. The Netherlands has recorded a sharp rise in the number of babies born in the first nine months of 2021 reaching the highest birth rate since 2011.

Not only has 2021 seen an increase in first-time parents, but there have also been more second and third children born this year than usual.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for the latest news and coronavirus updates.

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Cha-ching: the number of Dutch millionaires is on the rise

Farah Al Mazouni 🇸🇾 🇺🇸
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Cha-ching: the number of Dutch millionaires is on the rise

For the sixth year in a row, the number of millionaires in the Netherland increased in 2020 — hitting 24,000 millionaires compared to a year before.

Maybe it’s those downright stingy habits or heaps of Tikkie requests, but whatever it is Dutchies are doing, it seems to be working. Statistics Netherlands recorded yet another increase in the number of households with a capital of at least one million euros in the Netherlands. 🤑

To put things into a richer perspective, there are currently 100,000 more millionaires in the Netherlands compared to 2008 — a rise that the NOS attributes to economic growth, a thriving business market, growing stock prices, and rising house prices.

Wealth could be also contagious, 🤧 because there seems to be a pattern. Municipalities like Bloemendaal and Laren have a higher number of millionaires (one in four households) whereas Groningen, Flevoland, and Limburg have the lowest number.

Calculations

Although their bank accounts will definitely look comfortable, according to Nu.nl, this does not mean that this group of people have a million euros in their bank account ready for an as-seen-on-MTV splurge.

This data is based on their capital worth estimate, meaning that the data accounted for other forms of wealth such as the value of their home and owned shares in businesses and assets, in addition to deducting any debts such as mortgages.

READ MORE | 7 reasons the Dutch don’t do debt

Even the millionaires can’t escape inflation, however. Despite this group’s consistent growth since 2014, 2020 millionaires have had less purchasing power over the years compared to individuals who were equally wealthy 12 years ago. 🧐

What do you think of the latest millionaires data from the Netherlands? Let us know in the comments!

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Dutch tax authorities specifically targeted low-income individuals for fraud

Nicole Ogden 🇹🇭 🇺🇸
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Dutch tax authorities specifically targeted low-income individuals for fraud

Oh boy — the Tax and Customs Administration is in hot water (again) after they revealed that they’ve been discriminately checking low-income people for evidence of fraud when applying for childcare allowances.

According to RTL Nieuws, those with lower incomes were more likely to be singled out than those with higher incomes by the “Risk Classification Model (RCM) of Benefits.”

Last July, the RCM was stopped due to a report by the consultancy firm KPMG.

Low income = higher risk (apparently)

In March of this year, the Tax and Customs Administration conducted an internal investigation which found that their model may have been “illegitimate” and “discriminatory.”

Further, the tax authorities admitted to RTL that people with lower incomes were more likely to receive a “high risk” score and be subject to further checks than people with middle or high incomes. 😶

Out of the 1000 highest risk scores, 82.3% had a household income of less than €20,000.

If that isn’t shocking enough for you, 90% of single parents were selected for extra scrutiny — what??

The childcare allowance scandal

Between 2013 and 2019, the tax authorities accused more than 20,000 parents of fraud surrounding childcare benefits. As a result, the parents were expected to pay back thousands of euros to the tax office.

However, the fraud allegations were not legitimate and the parents were actually entitled to their allowances. People with dual-nationality were also unfairly targeted by the tax office.

This scandal led to the dissolution of the Dutch cabinet (however they’re still pretty much around and haven’t negotiated on a new cabinet yet 🙄).

What do you think about the tax office targeting low-income individuals for fraud checks? Tell us in the comments below!

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Following current measures is THE ONLY WAY to avoid a strict lockdown, OMT warns

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Following current measures is THE ONLY WAY to avoid a strict lockdown, OMT warns

You know poep is hitting the fan when the team tasked with advising the Dutch government on how to handle coronavirus starts using all caps. 🤦

According to the Dutch Outbreak Management Team (OMT), ‘THE ONLY WAY’ (their emphasis) to avoid a holiday season lockdown with strict measures is to comply with the current measures in place.

Many no longer following advice and measures

According to the NOS, the OMT is feeling a bit let down by current efforts to follow measures in the Netherlands.

To begin, the Dutch cabinet, while taking on some of the team’s advice, did not take on all of it. For example, the OMT had also advised that the catering industry close at 6 PM and not 8 PM.

Meanwhile, the cabinet has since asked the OMT whether it would be possible to only prevent the entry of new customers after 8 PM and allow catering to remain open later. As the all caps suggest, this doesn’t fly with the OMT. 🙅

According to the OMT, “the risk of contamination does not only depend on the number and change of different visitors, but also on the contact time between the visitors and the intensity of the contact.”

It’s not just the cabinet that the OMT is speaking to however, it’s also the public. According to the team, people are only complying with social distancing, testing, and wearing a face mask half of the time.

No new measures suggested yet

That being said, the OMT has not advised any specific new measures as of yet. Instead, they just want people to do better with the measures that are already in place. Or as the advice states:

“In the opinion of the OMT, improved compliance with existing measures currently has the potential to have a better effect on the decrease in the number of contacts than opting for the adjustment and extension of restrictive measures within a week.”

To summarise: keep sneezing into your elbow, pull that facemask up over your nose (yes OVER the nose), and give your loved ones some air hugs for the time being. That way, the Netherlands may be able to avoid a holiday lockdown. 🤞

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for the latest coronavirus news in the Netherlands.

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