Doctors from UMC Utrecht just transplanted an artificial heart into a 54-year-old man. This is the first time that this procedure has been done in the Netherlands.

According to De Volkskrant, the artificial heart was transplanted into a Dutch man suffering from severe heart failure as well as another condition, which meant that he had to wait a very long time before he was eligible for another heart — time which the patient didn’t have.

Artificial heart

But thankfully, technology has come to the rescue! French technology to be exact. Heart and lung surgeon, Faiz Ramjankhan, gave the man an artificial heart which has been successful in extending patients’ lives for up to ten years while they wait for a real heart. 🥺❤️

The artificial heart pumps blood through the heart via two motors and the power comes from batteries connected by a cable exiting the abdominal wall.

The patient was out of the IC after only two days and was excited to go back to cycling and exercising, according to his cardiologist Linda van Laake. He is also learning how to replace the batteries on his heart. ☺️

What do you think about the first heart transplant in the Netherlands? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Feature Image: ArturVerkhovetskiy/Depositphotos

By now, you’ve likely heard that the Netherlands will be going into lockdown tomorrow. But you’re also likely a bit confused. Is it really a lockdown? What measures will be brought in?

We have the same questions — and now, they’ve been answered by prime minister Rutte and outgoing health minister De Jonge.

READ MORE | Netherlands records highest daily infections since the start of the pandemic

Prime minister Rutte began his address to the public with a number — 16,364. The number of infections counted by the RIVM yesterday.

He points to these numbers for justification of these new measures, saying “16,000 infections on a daily basis is too much and hospitals have to postpone other essential care again, hence why we sadly have to bring bad news.”

With numbers the way they are, he explains, the Netherlands will not have a good winter unless measures are taken. “Here’s what we’re gonna do: reduce contact and go back to old measures we know for 3 weeks. After that period we’ll go into a different phase.”

The following lockdown measures will come into effect as of Saturday, November 13 at 6PM.

Horeca to close at 8PM, non-essential shops at 6PM

Catering establishments and non-essential shops will once again experience restricted opening hours. Catering establishments will close at 8PM and non-essential shops will close at 6PM. They will remain closed until 6AM.

Cinemas and theatres are an exception

While the cabinet has taken the OMT’s advice and will implement a lockdown of three weeks (instead of the two, which was recommended), they will not be implementing full-lockdown measures.

For example, cinemas and theatres may remain open throughout the lockdown — contrary to the OMT’s advice. But with reduced attendance, QR checks and fixed seating.

QR-codes will be needed at more venues

This measure has been anticipated since last Tuesday’s press conference. The use of QR-codes to gain entry will be expanded to include zoos and amusement parks as well as non-essential shops and contact professions.

Your employer may also choose to ask for a QR-code before returning to the workplace, especially if the place itself also needs to check for QR-codes (that’s you, hospitality staff). Higher education may request a QR-code — but only when it is deemed ‘necessary’.

Cabinet to prepare for implementing 2G measures

On top of these new measures, the cabinet has decided to begin preparations for 2G measures in the next three weeks. This was advised by the Outbreak Management Team (OMT).

Under this approach, people who are unvaccinated will no longer be able to receive a QR-code using a negative PCR test result. Instead, they either have to be vaccinated or have recovered from coronavirus.

A QR-code will remain necessary in order to enter bars and large scale events. De Jonge explains that these measures will be taken in order to “protect the unvaccinated.” He says that there is no “vaccination obligation” but the decision to get vaccinated or not “is not without responsibility.”

Maximum of 75 people in higher education

Within higher education, the number of people who may attend in person will be capped at 75. But not during exams.

No audience allowed at sport competitions

No more standing shoulder to shoulder with your fellow supporters. During this three week lockdown, spectators may not be present at sports events. However, sports may continue.

Urgent advice

The cabinet has also given the following urgent advice. This means that the following are not legal requirements:

1.5 metre rule

The cabinet will also reiterated the importance of keeping 1.5 metres distance in certain situations. People must remain socially distanced from one another, in places where no QR code is required — even in parks.

However, there are exceptions such as if a person is your roommate or if you have a QR code when attending sports, taking public transport, attending school or watching Sinterklaas arrive.

Maximum of four visitors at home

The cabinet also gives the urgent advice that people should cut out any large dinner/drinking parties for the time being. As of Saturday, the advice will be that we keep the maximum number of visitors to four — even if they’re vaccinated.

Work from home as much as possible

READ MORE | Coronavirus in the Netherlands: all you need to know [UPDATED]

If you haven’t kitted out your work from home set up with a proper chair, now’s the time to bite the bullet and just invest in one. Rutte and De Jonge ask that we bid adieu to the office for now and work from home as much as possible.

Financial support for companies affected by measures

There will be financial support for companies such as those in horeca and retail who will be affected by these lockdown measures. The cabinet will announce the details of this aid next week.

Booster shots to begin

De Jonge and Rutte could offer some hopeful news, however. The Netherlands will begin its rollout of a third booster shot next week. This will begin with vaccinating over 80’s as well as those who work in health care and care homes. From there, the rest of the population will be invited to receive a third dose.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook to get the latest coronavirus updates in the Netherlands.

Feature Image: Press Conference/Screenshot

It seems like half the Netherlands is holding its breath, waiting for Rutte and De Jonge to explain the partial lockdown at the press conference tonight. Meanwhile, Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (KHN) has released a statement saying catering will not close at 7 PM — no matter the law.

Looking at the expected coronavirus measures, it appears that Dutch catering establishments will have to close at 7 PM, starting from tomorrow. Nevertheless, the KHN has announced that they back any establishment that decides not to do so.

READ MORE | It’s happening: the Netherlands will go into a three-week lockdown

Symbolic measures

KHN emphasises that the RIVM’s source and contact research shows that only 2,9% of infections are contracted via the catering industry. They, therefore, understand the new measures to be purely symbolic — and once again placing a strain on the industry.

In fact, the KHN says “the burden of failed government policy is once again placed with catering entrepreneurs.” Take that, Rutte. 😬

The union FNV is also against the potential measures, reports AD. Director Edwin Vlek explains that catering employees have done their best to comply with the regulations over the past few months, scanning QR codes in addition to their usual tasks. “Nevertheless, the catering industry is now getting a stench for thanks,” he says.

Financially impossible

According to the KHN, there’s no financial leeway for the catering industry anymore. If establishments decide to stay open it “is about survival.”

Financial support for HORECA ended in October so, at the moment, only nightclubs can claim any form of government compensation. The chairman of the KHN tells AD that the government “should come with 100% compensation,” if the restricted opening hours are enforced.

Additionally, the KHN fears that the new measures will be the last drop that pushes employees to find permanent work in other sectors.

What do you think of the KHN’s response to the potential measures? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: halfpoint/Depositphotos

The Outbreak Management Team (OMT) has urged the Dutch government to impose 2G measures after a partial lockdown, reports the NOS.

While a three-week partial lockdown is expected to be announced at the press conference tonight, much controversy surrounds the introduction of 2G.

2G measures mean you could only obtain a valid QR code with a vaccination certificate or proof of recovery. Unvaccinated people would no longer have access to events or other aspects of public life — even if they have a negative PCR test.

 “Very plausible” that 2G would lower infections

According to epidemiologist Frits Rosendaal from the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), it’s likely that 2G measures would bring infections down from the past weeks spiralling numbers. He also says that this would lessen the burden on hospitals.

READ MORE | Coronavirus in the Netherlands: all you need to know [UPDATED]

Similarly, modellers from TU Delft calculated that the introduction of 2G measures would bring down the number of infections at events by 25%. Their model predicts that hospitalisations would fall by as much as 94%.

To what extent the 2G measures would lower the number of hospitalisations depends partially on peoples’ age. At events with many elderly people present, the effects would be much greater — since they have a higher chance of ending up in hospital.

However, Rosendaal says drawing an age limit for when 2G measures would apply isn’t viable. “You run the risk of getting into an endless discussion, just like a half-hearted lockdown.”

Exclusion of unvaccinated people

The 2G measures would exclude unvaccinated people from public life. Professor of medical ethics Mariëtte van den Hoven from Amsterdam University Medical Centre stresses that unvaccinated people are unfairly lumped together as one group. According to her, it’s important “to pay attention to diversity in society.”

Van den Hoven reminds us that “Among the unvaccinated are also people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. It’s taking it too far to exclude them all.”

An alternative model: 1G

The modellers from TU Delft have also studied the potential effects of introducing 1G measures. This would mean everyone (whether vaccinated, recovered, or unvaccinated) would have to get tested to obtain a QR code.

In this scenario, infections would decrease by as much as 74% — much more than with the discussed 2G measures. However, there wouldn’t be a significant lowering of hospital admissions compared to 2G: 74% compared to 94%.

Since 1G would prevent more infections than 2G, the number of hospitals admissions would, however, decrease further in the long run.

Currently, there are no known discussions of introducing 1G measures at a governmental level. 2G might soon be a reality, though.

What do you think of the prospect of 2G measures in the Netherlands? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: Mircea Moira/Depositphotos