Coronavirus cases in the Netherlands have decreased again only slightly, according to new figures from the RIVM. While it may be a step in the right directions, it’s not the decline we’d all like to see.

Over the past week, the number of new coronavirus cases has decreased from 36.931 to 33,949.

Hospitalisations are also down from the previous week’s 1291 nursing ward admissions and 193 ICU cases. This week, there were 1007 and 183, respectively.

Over the past week, 406 people have died from coronavirus-related complications. The week prior the were 422 deaths.

Some major developments have happened over the past week regarding coronavirus in the Netherlands, with changes in testing and wearing face masks, as well as some promising new antibody research. But even with these positive developments, some experts say we may need to settle in for the long-haul of this second wave.

Testing without symptoms

Starting today, testing is now possible even without symptoms present, as long as you’ve been in close contact with a person infected with the virus. For example, if you receive a notification via the GGD’s contact tracing program or the CoronaMelder app.

Mask mandate in effect

Also going into effect today is the new mask mandate, requiring people throughout the country to wear a mask in all indoor public spaces. Those found without may be subject to a €95 fine.

Several major Dutch retailers have said that although their employees will be wearing masks, they won’t be enforcing the rule with their shoppers. The retail chains wish to avoid potentially-dangerous confrontations, although they do expect patrons to follow the mandate.

Some retailers, such as Kruidvat and Albert Heijn, indicate that the majority of their customers have already been wearing masks, and they have no reason to believe that will change.

An enduring second wave

Representatives from the RIVM, Jaap van Dissel and Jacco Wallinga, along with Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge, have all indicated that the current second wave of coronavirus may last longer than we’d all hope.

According to De Jonge, to bring infections down to a level that allows for relaxation of measures, “You have to assume that it will really take longer than mid-January.” The health minister adds, “The fastest way to get rid of the measures is to stick to the measures.”

In a separate conversation, Van Dissel and Wallinga made a similar statement, saying that citizens need to take more “co-ownership of the problem of coronavirus spread.” The two RIVM experts say it’s “very realistic” that it may not be until March that we see coronavirus levels back down to a “watchful” level.

New antibody research

A new study from RIVM has found that our bodies are better at producing antibodies against the virus than previously thought. Coronavirus antibodies are stronger and last longer than earlier studies had shown. Over 90% of people infected with the virus still had antibodies in the system six months after infections.

Remdesivir use in hospitals

Although the WHO has issued advice against the use of the virus inhibitor remdesivir in coronavirus patients, Dutch hospitals will continue to use the drug.

A Dutch foundation that specialises in the use of antibiotics in the Netherlands (SWAB) and the Federation of Medical Specialists (FMS) refer to the WHO’s advice as a “weak, conditional recommendation” that adopts “a global perspective, taking into account, among other things, the proportional representation of other countries.”

SWAB and FMS have observed positive effects from the drug without harmful side effects and see no reason to discontinue use.

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Beginning today, you can get tested for coronavirus even without symptoms if you’ve been in close contact with someone who has tested positive.

Previously in the Netherlands, coronavirus-related complaints have been necessary to receive a test.

Now, if you realise you’ve been in close contact due to the GGD’s source and contact tracing or notification via the CoronaMelder app, for example, you will be able to receive a test.

Five days from contact

According to Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge, testing without complaints should be done five days from the time of contact. The days between should be spent in quarantine.

For all of your other coronavirus testing questions, check out our guide, Your top 10 coronavirus testing questions in the Netherlands, answered.

To stay up-to-date with coronavirus news in the Netherlands, follow DutchReview on Facebook.

Feature Image: Mufid Majnun/Pexels 

The RIVM has lost optimism for an early end to the second wave of coronavirus in the Netherlands. Jaap van Dissel, head of infectious disease control, and Jacco Wallinga, responsible for the calculation modelling, say we may well be riding this wave through March, in an interview with the NOS.

The RIVM representatives say the government cannot solely be responsible for containing the spread of the virus, and that citizens should take more of “a co-ownership of the problem of coronavirus spread.”

Wallinga says it is “very realistic” that it will be March by the time we see virus levels back down at the “watchful” level. “Last time we looked at mid-January, with fairly large uncertainty. It could also be December or even March.” He continues, “Now that has all been pushed back, but the uncertainty is also greater.”

“Sense of urgency is diminishing”

Van Dissel explains that the decline is happening so slowly in part due to people’s reluctance to work from home. “It is busier on the road than it was in March. Ultimately, this translates into the number of contacts that partly determines how many infections there are.”

“You also get the feeling that as soon as favourable messages are reported, people’s sense of urgency diminishes,” says Van Dissel, pointing out the busy shopping streets and groups of people walking around in public.

When asked whether the autumn holidays may have been a factor in the initial decline in new infections, Wallinga replies that it is indeed possible. “It coincided, so it is very difficult to distinguish the effect of the lockdown and what the effect of the autumn holidays was.” He says that in general, holidays are associated with fewer infections because “children do not go to school and people are no longer at work.”

“Italian lockdown”

The NOS inquires as to whether a two-week “Italian lockdown” would help, meaning people would only be allowed to go outside for necessary shopping.

“In general, that’s a very good idea,” says Wallinga. “If everyone stays at home for two weeks, you will get rid of a lot of infectious diseases.” But he continues that it’s “very heavy” and the economic and psychological costs are high.

Spreading through schools

Wallinga isn’t certain whether schools are a major factor in the high rates of infection, although he notes that the group with the most infections is now 15 to 20-year-olds. “That could be the older high school students.”

The RIVM has seen a decline in infections among the 24-year-olds, which may be attributed to the closure of the restaurant industry. But Wallinga says that closing schools may not have the same transparent effect.

“With people in their twenties, we had a clear idea where most infections took place.” Wallinga says it’s also clear for some other age groups. For example, with 50 to 60-year-olds, “We clearly know where they contracted infections: either in their own home or at work.”

Van Dissel adds that in tracking the virus, only 8.5% of infections can be traced back to schools as the source, though there is still much uncertainly around the exact locations of transmission. Among school-aged children, “the question is whether they don’t visit each other elsewhere,” says Van Dissel.

Both experts are reluctant against mass testing. While widespread testing in Slovakia may have had positive results, Wallinga says it was likely also attributed to additional rigorous measures.

Van Dissel adds that groups were also widely tested in Luxembourg and they now have some of the highest infection rates in Europe. “…you have to integrate it into a whole package of measures and you have to think carefully about how often you want to perform those tests.”

Wallinga emphasises that “in itself, testing is not a control.”

What do you think of experts’ opinions of the spread of coronavirus in the Netherlands? Are stricter measures needed? Tell us in the comments below.

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