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5,300 coronavirus infections reported in nursing homes

Vlad Moca-Grama
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5,300 coronavirus infections reported in nursing homes

The elderly are among the most vulnerable of groups when it comes to the risk brought about by the coronavirus.

Nursing homes pose a danger during this current crisis due to the close proximity of many elderly. A recent report by the NRC estimates that there are around 5,300 coronavirus cases in nursing homes according to NOS.

120,000 people live in nursing homes in the Netherlands

The data of sick people in nursing homes was obtained through the two main digital databases on nursing homes, Ysis and Ons.

According to the report by the NRC, the Ysis database has recorded 629 deaths and 358 recoveries in nursing homes. The Ons database does not record any of the mortalities.

Only half of the sick elderly have been tested for coronavirus, while the rest display symptoms which closely resemble the virus. This is in line with the RIVM policy of only testing and registering serious cases.

Because of the RIVM policy, some of these cases go unregistered in RIVM’s count. A professional association for geriatric medicine called Verenso has been collecting data on coronavirus cases over the last week.

The nursing homes report the deaths of patients suspected of coronavirus to the Bureau of Statistics of the Netherlands. According to one of their reports, 2,000 people died in just one week (30 March-6 April).

This comes in the context that there is suspicion that coronavirus cases are underreported in nursing homes. Last week, half of the elderly in the dementia wing in a nursing home died from the virus.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for all coronavirus-related news in the Netherlands.

Dutch cabinet reacts to Trump suspending WHO funding

Vedika Luthra
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Dutch cabinet reacts to Trump suspending WHO funding

Yesterday it was announced that American president, Donald Trump had decided to suspend funding from the World Health Organisation. In response, the Netherlands expressed its support towards the association. 

President Trump announced America’s withdrawal of funds from WHO after criticising it for “severely managing” the coronavirus crisis. Furthermore, he bashed the organisation’s relationship with China, stressing that China should have been condemned more.

The US contributes 15% of the WHO’s budget (which equates to $400 million) and since the WHO is currently working hard to combat the spread of COVID-19, withdrawal of funds isn’t really helping the situation. In times like these when the world should be coming together to combat the global pandemic, America never fails to disappoint us.

Dutch response

In response to Trump, yesterday the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Sigrid Kaag took to Twitter in order to stress Dutch support for WHO. The Minister stated:

“The Netherlands supports the WHO. It is important that the WHO can continue to do its job well in this global corona crisis. Now is not the time to turn off the money tap. Now all our energy is needed to overcome this crisis. International cooperation is vital.”

Kaag illustrates the views of pretty much most of us around the world.

According to NLTimes, Members of Parliament from coalition parties CDA, D66, ChristienUnie and urged Kaag and other EU members to ensure that the US doesn’t stop its funding and that the EU should come to aid the WHO.

Do you think the US is justified in quitting the WHO? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Feature Image: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons

Government pledges 300 million euros to support cultural sector

Vlad Moca-Grama
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Government pledges 300 million euros to support cultural sector

The cultural sector has been severely affected by the coronavirus outbreak, as museums, musical venues and theatres have had to close. There are concerns in the cultural sector that there will be a loss of turnover of up to one billion euros by the first of June.

Thankfully, the Government has made a support package worth 300 million euros, reports NOS.

For cultural institutions of vital interest

The package is intended to support cultural institutions for the next couple of months, but they can also use the money to prepare for next season.

The Minister of Culture, Van Engelshoven, has expressed his satisfaction with the package, saying: “Culture matters. It is precisely in this time of crisis that it is clear how important art is: to offer comfort, distraction, and hope.”

Nevertheless, the package is not intended for all the cultural institutions in the Netherlands: just for those which are of vital interest.

This support package will subsidise festivals and cultural institutions that have already been supported for the past couple of years by the six national culture funds in the Netherlands. Examples of such institutions that will benefit include the Rijkmuseum in Amsterdam, the Open Air Museum, the Theater Group in Maastricht and Oerolfestival.

Some of the money will also go to the National Restoration Fund, making it easier for other cultural institutions to borrow money from there. Smaller provincial museums, theaters and musical venues may also qualify for the money in the National Restoration Fund.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for the latest news on all coronavirus-related topics in the Netherlands.

Image: Roman Boed/Wikimedia Commons 

 

Number of ICU beds needed will decrease to normal levels by 1 May, OMT expects

Ailish Lalor
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Number of ICU beds needed will decrease to normal levels by 1 May, OMT expects

According to the Outbreak Management Team (OMT), intensive care units will go back down to their regular capacity by 1 May. That means, in practice, that there will be 1200 total beds, of which 700 will be occupied by coronavirus patients, RTL Nieuws reports.

Currently, the Netherlands has managed to double its total ICU capacity, with 2400 beds available nationally, of which 1900 are available to coronavirus patients. Intensive care units all across the country were expanded to deal with the crisis.

As of yesterday, 1279 of those 1900 beds were occupied, a number that has been decreasing by 20-30 people per day for the last three days.

“Society as we had it will not suddenly return”

However, yesterday at the press conference, Rutte stressed that normal life was not about to resume, just because the number of patients in the ICU was going down: “society as we had it will not suddenly return,” He warned that even if the trend in the numbers continued to look favourable, only a step-by-step relaxation of certain regulations could be expected on 28 April. That is the best case scenario.

Relaxation of the rules could lead to more people in ICUs

He also addressed the problem that a relaxation of the rules might lead to more patients in the ICU again, yesterday, noting that while opening up schools and businesses again would take the pressure off families (especially financially), it would definitely increase the number of people out and about and in public transport.

Three criteria before rules can be relaxed

The government has said that in order for normal life to begin to resume once again, three criteria need to be met. There needs to be less pressure on the healthcare system, there needs to be sufficient testing capacity, and there needs to be a way to track infections.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for updates about coronavirus in the Netherlands. 

Feature Image: Calleamanecer/Wikimedia Commons 

Rutte: coronavirus numbers are definitely improving, but “stick with it”

Ailish Lalor
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Rutte: coronavirus numbers are definitely improving, but “stick with it”

This evening, Prime Minister Rutte and Minister de Jonge held a press conference at 19:00 to discuss the current state of affairs regarding the coronavirus crisis in the Netherlands. This comes after the cabinet met this evening.

There were no big revelations of new rules: instead, the press conference is part of the government’s strategy to take the public along with them in the decision making process. Rutte began by thanking people for keeping to the social distancing rules during the sunny Easter weekend, and he emphasised that those who had not kept to the rules were both a minority and had been punished.

The more we follow the rules, the sooner we can relax them

He also reiterated that the more people followed the rules, the sooner we could think about loosening them. In response to a question from an NOS reporter, Rutte said that he very much hoped that specific rules could be loosened from the 28 April onwards, but that it was also possible that the current lockdown might be completely continued, if the numbers (of deaths, IC beds, hospitalisations and cases) did not look good.

Both Rutte and de Jonge brought up the three criteria again, which we heard about last week. In order for the government to allow the lockdown to end, there needs to be less pressure on the healthcare system, there needs to be a way to track infections, and there needs to be sufficient test capacity.

Relaxing specific rules, not normal life

Rutte said that it would be impossible for the Netherlands to open completely and go back to normal life on 28 April; the only possibility would be the loosening of specific rules. He encouraged businesses, schools, and cultural institutions to draw up plans of how they could reopen, while keeping to the 1.5m rule.

No face masks for Dutchies

De Jonge was grilled on why the Netherlands is not advising its citizens to wear face masks, as Belgium and Germany, for example, are. He stated that it was both unnecessary to do so, and would potentially have a negative effect on the healthcare system, where face masks are still in short supply. His views were based on the advice of the RIVM. He did admit, in response to follow up questions, that the expert advice from the RIVM was definitely influenced by the scarcity of masks the Netherlands is dealing with.

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

Feature Image: Still press conference Rutte. 

Coronavirus update April 15: 189 new deaths, and 188 new hospitalisations

Ailish Lalor
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Coronavirus update April 15: 189 new deaths, and 188 new hospitalisations

The RIVM has published the latest numbers on the coronavirus in the Netherlands. As of today, Wednesday, 15 April, there are a total of 28,153 (confirmed) cases in the country with 734 new cases. There are also 188 new hospitalisations, bringing the total to 9127, and 189 new deaths reported, bringing the total to 3134.

The number of deaths is higher than we have come to expect over the last few days, but it is good to see that the number of hospitalisations is significantly less than yesterday.

As of yesterday, Tuesday, the numbers for the week prior were fully up to date. As you might know, there is often a delay in reporting deaths and hospitalisations, but this becomes accurate each week on Tuesday for the week before, according to the RIVM.

What’s happening with the ICU beds?

As of yesterday, the number of filled IC beds was 1303, which is way under capacity. It is also the third day in a row that we have seen a decrease in the number of occupied IC beds. Hopefully this is a sign of the curve flattening.

What else is going on with coronavirus in the Netherlands?

Student housing units do not qualify as households

Seventeen students were fined this weekend for being out in public together, raising the question of whether those who live in student housing together should be counted as households or not. According to the police, they do not. But do students really deserve the condemnation they received from the public about this?

What will King’s Day look like this year?

From bells to national anthems to a special NOS broadcast, the details of this year’s King’s Day have been revealed. Of course, it’s going to be very different from usual, but hopefully will still be a heartwarming day. What are your plans for celebrating it (indoors)?

Least boring jigsaw puzzle ever

A woman discovered a jigsaw puzzle box full of ecstasy pills in her garage, while doing a bit of spring cleaning. She reported the find to the police, and explained that she had received the package in the mail four years ago, and hadn’t known what to do with it, so just kept it in the shed.

Delft students create ventilator design in just three weeks

Within three weeks, students at TU Delft have created a ventilator design, in order to help with the potential shortage of ventilators as a result of coronavirus. The government has put in an order of 500 machines with them, which should be delivered by the end of April.

Follow DutchReview on Facebook for all coronavirus-related news in the Netherlands.

Feature Image: DutchReview/Canva

Two murderers from Breda disappeared without a trace

Vlad Moca-Grama
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Two murderers from Breda disappeared without a trace

Two men who committed murder back in 2018, who are supposed to now serve their sentence of 20 years, have disappeared.

The police are asking for any leads on the case, and the men are known in the media as the ‘flat jumpers’, reports NOS. The two men are Azzeddine Azahaf (28) and Anel Bijedic (29).

Police are asking for help

The police have requested help with the case, asking the public to call their investigation tip hotline, if the men are seen anywhere. Any whereabouts of the place where they are hiding are also requested.

The police have stressed that if you do see them to not approach them on your own, but to call 112, as the suspects are armed and dangerous.

Flat jumpers

Back in 2018, the police chased them down to the flat where they committed the murder, and in an attempt to escape from the police, they jumped out the window from the third floor, leading them to have the nickname ‘flat jumpers.’

Questions have been raised about why two murderers were able to escape with such apparent ease.

They were detained for a year and a half after that and were released in October 2019 pending their trial. On April 9, 2020, they were sentenced to 20 years in prison, but have since run away.

Feature Image: Opsporing Verzocht

Sunnier days ahead, with temperatures at 15 degrees or above

Vedika Luthra
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Sunnier days ahead, with temperatures at 15 degrees or above

Over the first two days of this week, the temperature dropped significantly and perhaps you reconsidered putting away your winter gear last week. But fear not, from today onwards the sun is back out and here to stay for a while. 

Last week, it appeared as if the whole country was out and about. The temperature soared over 23 degrees: it seemed that winter was well behind us. Hello, Spring. But on Monday and Tuesday, the sky was cloudy and the air cold due to frigid winds blowing from the North Sea.

15 degrees and higher this week

Now things are looking up. RTLNieuws reports that starting today the temperature will reach 15 degrees and will be sunny.

Tomorrow, temperatures will rise to between 19 and 20 degrees, which is higher than the average spring temperature of 13 degrees. Friday will be slightly colder, with an average of 16 degrees.

During the weekend, it is expected to be somewhat cloudy but warmer/sunnier weather will resume during the week.

Keep the coronavirus measures in mind

Although the sun’s out and it’s perhaps tempting to take advantage of the outdoors, keep in mind that we are still in the midst of a pandemic. This means that if you do decide to take advantage of the warm weather, make sure to respect the measures in place (keeping a distance of 1.5 meters, no groups larger than three people).

And if possible, stay indoors as much as you can.

These measures are difficult, restricting and sometimes frustrating. But they are in place for a reason, and as hard as they might be, we are still obliged to respect them for ourselves and for those around us.

How are you taking advantage of the sun (in a corona-friendly way?) Let us know in the comments!

Feature Image: Abuzer van Leeuwen/supplied. 

Police release video of arsonist who set fire to Groningen radio tower

Ailish Lalor
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Police release video of arsonist who set fire to Groningen radio tower

A video has been released of the man who set fire to a radio tower in Groningen last Friday. There have been a series of these arson attacks on radio towers, though it is not clear if this particular man is responsible for any of the others, NOS reports.

Over the past two weeks, thirteen radio towers have been set on fire by arsonists. There is a possibility that this is connected with the recent controversy over the introduction of 5G to the Netherlands.

5G controversy increased as a result of coronavirus

The controversy around 5G has only increased in recent months, as some activists claim that there is a connection between it and coronavirus. There is no scientific evidence for this; nor is there any for the idea that 5G causes health problems in general. The police don’t yet know if the recent radio tower arson attacks are connected to each other, or to the movement against 5G, but do consider both as a possibility.

Fires were lit in the same way

The arson attacks were all carried out in the same way as this most recent one, police report in a statement to Opsporing Verzocht: “It seems that the fires are lit in the same way as in Groningen. A flammable substance, often petrol, is poured over it and set on fire.”

5G groups emphatically distance themselves from arsonist: “this makes no sense”

Groups who have organised against 5G, such as ‘5G Den Haag’ and ‘5G, Het Gooi zegt Nee’, have expressed their condemnation of these arson attacks. “We have no idea who is behind these fires, but this makes no sense and we distance ourselves from this. We are very disappointed by this and it harms us,” says Georgette Polderman from the group “5G Den Haag”.

Considerable danger to the arsonist and the fire brigade

Police warn that there is considerable danger to the perpetrator(s) of this type of arson. “There is a lot of volts on the power cables that run there. So you can easily be electrocuted. Therefore it is also very dangerous for the fire brigade.”

Arson attacks disrupting emergency services

It is not only the fire brigade that is at risk as a result of these arson attacks: they really couldn’t come at a worse time for ambulances. If a radio tower is out of action, emergency services can be uncontactable. In the times of coronavirus, emergency workers are under enough strain as it is, without having to worry that either people won’t be able to call them in an emergency, or they will have to go out of contact with the operator when they go to help someone in need.

The police are asking people with information to come forward

The man shown in the video is white, about 190cm, and looks to be between 20 and 30 years of age. The car he used to commit the crime was a black or blue Toyota Aygo, a model from 2014.

The police have asked anyone who may know this individual to come forward, as well as anyone who has noticed anything suspicious that might be connected to the thirteen arson attacks over the last two weeks as well.

Feature image: Screencap of video released by Opsporing Verzocht. 

Innovative Delft students create ventilator design in just three weeks

Vlad Moca-Grama
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0
Innovative Delft students create ventilator design in just three weeks

Some great innovation news has arrived from our one and only TU Delft: there, some students have managed to make their own ventilators to aid the breathing of patients in ICU’s.

Over the past few months, researchers, scientists and medical staff have been working hard to innovate and help with the current coronavirus outbreak. These students have achieved impressive success.

The AIRone

The ventilator developed by the TU Delft students is called the ‘AIRone’. The ventilator was developed over a period of only three weeks, starting from mid-March, when concerns were raised that there are might be a shortage of ventilators.

The Ministry of Health has already placed an order of 500 ventilators from the students. While the device still needs to go through some final testing procedures, by Thursday it should be up and running in an assembly line in the TU Delft campus.

The students have even received a subsidy from the Ministry of Economic Affairs so that they can successfully implement and develop their ventilator. Professor Jaap Harlaar, who is supervising the students, expects that the 500 ventilators will be delivered by end of April.

Increase in ventilator production

Other companies have been quick to ramp up their production of ventilators. Philips, for example, produces under normal circumstances 500 ventilators a week but is now making 1000 of them, with the goal of reaching 4000 ventilators per week.

The Ministry of Health ordered from Philips 1000 ventilators, but a majority of them have not yet arrived in the Netherlands.  Philips is also delivering ventilators to places where the demand is high due to the outbreak.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs does encourage local production of all the pieces of the ventilator, in order to avoid competition on the world market. Some other companies that have worked hard to develop ventilators locally in the Netherlands include Demcom and the FreeBreathing project.

In any case, the ventilator developed by the TU Delft students has earned them praise from medical staff, who’ve praised the students for developing such a device quickly and with limited resources.

It’s even got attention from other countries. The UK, for example, has requested some of the ventilators made in TU Delft. While they won’t be exported there, the blueprints will be made available for free so that any country with the necessary pieces can make a ventilator themselves.

Excited for all these local technological innovations? Let us know in the comments!

Feature Image: J. van Rosmalen/Wikimedia Commons 

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