Minister of Health Hogo de Jonge has expressed concern about the spread of the more contagious British variant of COVID-19 among children. The cabinet is discussing with the Outbreak Management Team (OMT) whether primary schools should be testing more often, and when they should reopen.

The ministers are rethinking their approach to testing, after a coronavirus outbreak of 40 cases at a primary school in Bergschenhoek (South Holland), according to NOS. The GGD has said that it’s plausible that most of these cases are concerning the British strain of the virus.

According to Minister De Jonge, because the virus has spread so clearly at the school, there may be consequences regarding the Netherlands’ testing policy.

Previously, it had been assumed that primary school-aged children don’t play much of a role in spreading the virus. “The spread among primary school children was not a major source of contamination before, but this cluster is,” said De Jonge.

The cabinet met yesterday afternoon to discuss whether a more intensive testing policy is needed within schools.

Plan for reopening schools announced today

It has been the intention under the current lockdown that primary schools remain closed until January 18, although the Lower House has called on the cabinet to see about opening earlier.

According to De Jonge, the cabinet has met about the matter and plans to make an announcement later today. The general assumption is that infection rates are still too high to reopen sooner than planned.

Do you think the testing strategy in primary schools should be adjusted? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

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Jaap van Dissel, director of the RIVM, believes relaxation of the current coronavirus measures will only be possible in February after the first groups of people to be vaccinated have received their second injections. 

“We are going to vaccinate in January, a second dose will follow in mid-February. So from that period, partial relaxation is probably possible for the groups that have been vaccinated,” Van Dissel explained.

But the trick will be knowing how to relax measures in such a way that numbers don’t soar again immediately afterwards, the director admits. “You would rather not go into a hard lockdown again.”

Another lockdown

Critics have argued that the Netherlands took too long to enforce stronger measures when numbers began rising in the autumn. The result was that a hard lockdown was needed.

However, Van Dissel says action will be taken sooner if numbers rise again in February, reports RTL Nieuws. This is because the signal values have been reduced, meaning that new measures will be implemented at lower numbers.

Currently, if there are seven infections per 100,000 inhabitants per day, and 40 hospital and ten ICU admissions per day, this warrants stronger measures in the Netherlands, which of course we have now far exceeded. By how much these signal values will be lowered is unclear.

Public opinion

Van Dissel wonders how the public will react to lowering the signal values. If we go into a hard lockdown again with lower numbers, this may seem odd, reports NOS.

“But Ireland has such a system of fast, hard lockdowns, that’s where things are going pretty well now. So it could be an approach, although that is an island with its own culture,” says Van Dissel. “We scientists are not ashamed to change our view and progress from there, although it is a mortal sin in politics.”

What do you think of the RIVM’s new approach to coronavirus measures? Tell us in the comments below.

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Counting down the days until someone in head-to-toe PPE comes at you with a shiny needle? Same. While you’re dreaming about what you will do once society is rid of the curse that is coronavirus, familiarise yourself with where you can get your vaccine fix.

The Netherlands can expect to see one large vaccination centre in each of the country’s GGD regions. The first vaccinations begin on January 8 and will be given to healthcare workers. From January 18, the RIVM claims that vaccinations will be carried out at 25 vaccination halls in the different regions.

How does it work?

Each person who wants to be vaccinated against coronavirus can expect an invitation to get vaccinated at their nearest GGD. For the time being, once you receive your invitation, you must call your GGD to book the appointment, however, it is expected this step may become digital at a later date.

When exactly you receive your invitation depends on your age, occupation and health status. Once you receive the vaccine, you will be expected to return for a booster vaccine at least 21 days after your initial dose.

Where will I be vaccinated?

While the Netherlands has fallen under some criticism in the past when it came to its vaccination strategy — or lack thereof — the country now has at least 25 vaccination halls. These are located in a variety of buildings, such as gyms, stadiums and airports.

RTL Nieuws has compiled a complete list of the various vaccination halls, so here is where you can expect to walk, cycle, run or skip to for your future vaccination:

Do you know which vaccine hall you will be heading to this year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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