It seems that coronavirus is spreading faster than the GGDs and contact tracing labs can handle. At the moment, GGDs only have the capacity for 28,000 corona tests per day. 

The reason for this is not due to a lack of testing facilities, but a lack of lab equipment. The GGDs have had to halt testing once laboratory materials run out. “A number of GGDs have recently been able to run at 70 percent. For example, they were only open until 1:00 pm because after that the materials at the labs ran out,” said GGD director, Sjaak de Gouw in an address to the Lower House yesterday.

This means that for the moment, tens of thousands of people cannot be tested. In order to accommodate the rising number of people who want a test, the GGDs have already closed down the Schiphol testing lane and introduced “priority testing” for people such as healthcare workers and teachers.

Contact tracing limited

However, GGDs are also struggling to facilitate the needs of contact tracing. The new surge in coronavirus cases is moving faster than contact tracing facilities can train new employees. “The end is not yet in sight and the virus is scaling up faster than the fastest scaling plan.”

Due to this, GGDs have turned to a ‘risk-based’ approach of contact tracing. This means that for the time being, they will only help those who may have infected numerous people due to, for example, their work situation.

Those who are not considered to have possibly infected many people are asked to carry out contact tracing themselves and inform those who they may have infected through contact.

Up to speed by October

Edwin Boel of the National Coordination Structure Testing Capacity (LCDK) also told the House that new test materials should be available to testing labs by October. This way, it is expected that the GGD will be able to carry out 50,000 corona tests per day.

Have you struggled to receive a test? Let us know in the comments below!

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From October 1, airlines must refund money to customers for cancelled flights within seven days. After conducting research and holding discussions with KLM, Transavia, TUI, Vueling, and Corendon, the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ITL) has announced that its period of leniency for refunds will be ending.

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, an unprecedented number of flights have been cancelled, leaving many airline customers impatiently waiting for a refund. This will soon be changing, as a seven-day mandatory refund period will apply to flights cancelled after October 1. For flights cancelled on or before October 1, a refund period of 60 days applies.

The pandemic has brought serious financial trouble for airlines and the ILT temporarily changed its policies to be more flexible about reimbursement rules. However, due to the multitude of customer complaints —1,300 between March and September — they launched an investigation.

People had complained that they received a voucher rather than a refund, and were also unhappy about the extensive waiting times for repayment. Thus, the ILT is returning to the enforcement of its original seven-day refund policy.

Have you had to wait on a refund for a cancelled flight? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!

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Over the past week, coronavirus cases have continued to smash records for daily infection rates in the Netherlands. Yesterday alone, 2,223 new infections were reported. 

This week RIVM reported 13,471 new coronavirus cases, an increase of 5,206 from last week’s 8,265.

The number of hospitalizations is also up. Since September 16th, there have been 152 new hospitalisations, compared to the prior week’s 92.

The number of people dying from the virus has more than doubled. While last week’s report showed 14 people had passed away from coronavirus, this week there were 33 deaths.

In total, 97,542 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the Netherlands since the first confirmed case in February. Infection rates are expected to break the 100,000 barrier by tomorrow or Thursday.

Most affected regions

The Randstad remains the most affected region. Amsterdam holds the highest number of new infections from the past week, where 308 diagnoses were made just yesterday. Rotterdam follows, and then The Hague.

Other municipalities with high infection rates include Utrecht, Groningen, Leiden, Nijmegen, Almere, Eindhoven, and Haarlemmermeer.

New regional measures

Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Health Minister Hugo de Jonge held a press conference on Friday to discuss the new course of coronavirus in the Netherlands. They announced that they want to prevent a national lockdown by enforcing regional guidelines in the areas most affected.

The government introduced a new three-tiered approach to targeting regional measures:

• Level One — Vigilant: subject to normal measures
• Level Two — Worrying: infections are rising, worrying situation with additional regional measures that would help to stop the spread.
• Level Three — Serious: Strict measures to protect vulnerable people and manage the healthcare system.

So far, six regions fall into Level Two: Amsterdam-Amstelland, Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Haaglanden, Utrecht, Kennemerland, and Hollands-Midden.

The new measures for Level Two areas include:

• Bars must close at midnight, with everyone cleared by 1 am;
• Groups may not exceed 50 people, including weddings;
• In the event of a funeral, demonstration, or religious event, groups of more than 50 people may gather only with authorisation.

For a detailed run-down on new national and regional measures, see Press conference: potential for 10,000 infections per day within three weeks, new measures announced.

New hotline for healthcare and educational personnel

GGDs have been overwhelmed with the increased need for testing in the Netherlands. “If you try to make an appointment there is a long wait time. We’re working very hard to get some more lab capacity,” said Minister De Jonge in Friday’s press conference.

In light of this capacity shortage, the phone number to a new testing hotline was released on Monday (0800-8101), exclusively for those people working in the healthcare or education sectors. The government deems these individuals most at-risk and wants to ensure they have priority testing. Already, the phone line is being jammed up with calls.

People with symptoms still going to work

A new study by EenVandaag was released regarding people’s willingness to go to work while exhibiting symptoms that could indicate coronavirus. It showed that three out of 10 Dutch employees would still attend work with complaints such as a runny nose or sore throat.

Many cite company culture as their reason for attending work with symptoms. “I often have a cold. Colleagues would find it strange if I was not allowed to work now,” says one interviewee.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for more information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

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Advice from the government has officially said, “In case of complaints, stay at home.” Apparently this advice is necessary, as new research from EenVandaag shows that three out of 10 employees go to work with cold symptoms.

Reports from RIVM show that coronavirus infections are happening second-most commonly in the workplace, after one’s own household. EenVandaag’s research surveyed nearly 500 employers with staff and 8,000 employees and self-employed people.

Not staying home, even with symptoms

Of the employees surveyed, 43% still attend work with mild symptoms, and don’t seek coronavirus testing. It’s also evident that they don’t stay home after returning from a high-risk area or when living with a person with flu-like symptoms.

Many employees feel that they are expected to go to work by their employer, regardless of complaints. Some report that there are not enough people in their workplace who care about the guidelines. According to regulations, the employer is allowed to decide whether someone should come to work with complaints, and 45% of employees say they feel reluctant to stay home when feeling under the weather.

Cough, cold, or corona?

Further, many employees also report that they are able to distinguish for themselves between a common cold and coronavirus. If they have a runny nose or cough, they don’t automatically consider coronavirus.

Others cite work culture as the reason for heading into the office with cold symptoms. “I often have a cold. Colleagues would find it strange if I was not allowed to work now,” says one survey responder.

Although, according to the study, only one out of three of employers actively checks whether staff with health complaints are present in the workplace. Employers fear their companies may not survive if everyone with symptoms stays home. Of the employers surveyed, 71% thinks the guidelines for staying home with minor complaints are unsuitable for their company.

Employers seeking alternate solutions

A third of Dutch employers are considering using their own commercial coronavirus test. The tests cost €100-150 each and some employers say that could be less expensive than paying sick people. Employers are also asking for more government aid to help absorb the cost of wages, as they say they must continue to pay employees even in the event of illness.

Would you attend work with minor symptoms? How is the culture around illness at your workplace? Let us know in the comments below!

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With coronavirus cases skyrocketing across the country, the GGD has opened a telephone line for testing exclusively to healthcare and education personnel. 

Last week, Health Minister Hugo de Jonge announced that healthcare and educational staff are to have priority coronavirus testing. This morning, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport released the phone number they can call to arrange their test, 0800-8101.

This priority testing is only a temporary measure, put into effect because of increased demand and waiting times. People calling for priority testing will need proof from their employer. “Just saying that you have a cold and that you are in front of the class is not enough,” says Minister De Jonge in a NOS report.

Netherlands infections soar

According to data from RIVM, 11,705 people tested positive for coronavirus last week. That’s 60% higher than the total from the week prior. The upward trend is expected to continue.

New measures were announced on Friday to help curb the spread of the virus in six key regions. These include the early closure of bars and restaurants and limiting group size to a maximum of 50 people.

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

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