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The Netherlands can only support 2400 ICU beds due to lack of ICU nurses

Vlad Moca-Grama
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The Netherlands can only support 2400 ICU beds due to lack of ICU nurses

One of the greatest challenges for any healthcare system right now is having enough intensive care units (ICUs), to take in the high number of people infected with the coronavirus.

The Netherlands has only a limited number of ICU beds, and while there have been political calls for this number to be expanded to 3000, an association of nurses does not believe that is feasible, reports NOS.

A maximum of 2400 ICU beds

Gerton Heye, chairman of V & VN, a professional association of nurses, said that getting more than 2400 ICU beds is simply not possible, due to a lack of ICU nurses to manage them.

He points out that being an ICU nurse not only requires technical skills, but that it’s also a mentally straining job. Normally, an ICU nurse takes care of two patients, but in the near future, that number might increase to three or four patients.

Currently, nurses that work in other departments are taking over certain tasks normally done by ICU nurses.

Call for more ICU beds is irresponsible

According to Mr Heyne, asking for more ICU beds is irresponsible. Political parties like the PvdA and PVV that call for 3000 ICU beds to be implemented are sending an illusory message to society.

The problem is that if the number of patients increases in the following weeks, not everyone will be able to get an ICU bed and that increases the risk of death. Besides that, some beds need to be left open for non-coronavirus patients.

Hospitals have also criticised the call for more beds. The chairman of the Ā Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital in Tilburg has said that the maximum capacity of beds is expected to be fully occupied within the next five days. He further stated that “You can easily say that you want 3000 beds, but that is not a walk to the supermarket. The reality is really different.”

82 new patients in ICU compared to yesterday

As of now, there’s a total of 1,273 patients in intensive care units, with 82 new patients since yesterday. This increase in line to current expectations, according to the National Coordination Centre for Patient Distribution.

Follow theĀ DutchReview Facebook pageĀ for more updates on COVID-19 in the Netherlands.

Feature Image: Calleamanecer/Wikimedia CommonsĀ 

Coronavirus update: 166 more deaths and 625 more hospitalisations

Ailish Lalor
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Coronavirus update: 166 more deaths and 625 more hospitalisations

The RIVM has published the latest count of coronavirus cases in the Netherlands. The new number is 14697 cases. This is an increase of 1083 cases since yesterdayā€™s count, with 166 more deaths (total: 1339) and 625 more hospitalizations (5784 in total).Ā 

These numbers are somewhat higher than those reported yesterday, but itā€™s important to remember that the numbers might be off by a bit, as the RIVM itself also has reported. Testing is not widespread enough to give us a good idea of how many people are infected, and recoveries are not currently being recorded. Furthermore, deaths and hospitalisations are not always reported on the day they occur.

What is important is the number of intensive care units that are left, because having enough capacity is crucial to stopping unnecessary deaths. Currently, there are 1400 beds available across the country, with 1191 being filled yesterday. The Netherlands also has an agreement with Germany, which will take some of our IC patients if we run out of beds.

What else is happening with coronavirus in the Netherlands today?

Virologists expect coronavirus rules to persist til July at least

The big news today is that Dutch virologists are expecting most of the current coronavirus measures and regulations to extend well into the summer, to July at the earliest. They also reckon that the rules will be relaxed in a staggered mechanism, with schools going back first, then restaurants, and then perhaps public gatherings by late autumn. But much is still unclear, and a lot of research still needs to bear fruit before further decisions are taken by the government on 28 April.

The Netherlands suggests a European emergency fund for coronavirus

Rutte has suggested a emergency European relief fund for countries hit particularly hard by coronavirus. This fund should total between 10 and 20 billion, and countries should contribute proportionally. Hoekstra suggested in an interview yesterday that the Netherlands would give one billion euros to the fund.

Coronavirus to cause drugs shortages in coming years

There are likely to be long term shortages in pharmaceutical drugs as a result of coronavirus. India and China produce 80% of the pharmaceutical drugs sold in the Netherlands, but because factories there have closed as a result of the outbreak, a drugs shortage is likely to persist for years in the Netherlands.

Caterpillars to be left in peace this year

And, one unexpected story: because protective clothing is being used by the healthcare industry much more than it usually is at the moment, the people who usually suck up the nests of oak processionary caterpillars cannot do so. They need protective suits to fend off the stinging hairs the caterpillars release.

Follow theĀ DutchReview Facebook page for more updates on COVID-19 in the Netherlands.

Feature Image: DutchReview/Canva

The coronavirus crisis might cause a long-term shortage of pharmaceutical drugs

Vlad Moca-Grama
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The coronavirus crisis might cause a long-term shortage of pharmaceutical drugs

India and China produce 80% of the pharmaceutical drugs sold in the Netherlands. Because these factories are now closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, there might be a potential shortage.Ā 

Factories in China have been closed for weeks, and due to the lockdown in India, production has come to a standstill. This creates a scarcity of products. The shortage of pharmaceutical drugs in the Netherlands might potentially last years, according to RTL Nieuws.

The shortage could potentially last years

How long the shortage will last depends entirely on how long the coronavirus crisis lasts, says Ludwig Castelijns, the director of the medicine wholesaler Mosadex.

Any impact on the normal production chain means that overtime hours will be required from those working in the industry to make up for the lost time, but given the current crisis, that may not happen anytime soon.

The dependence of the Netherlands on imports of pharmaceuticals is not a new problem, and experts have expressed concern over this issue in the past couple of years.

Precedent in 2017

A similar situation happened back in 2017 when 1500 Chinese factories had to close due to air pollution.

The situation caused a severe shortage of tuberculosis medicine, and the World Health Organization even requested that the factories open again.

The Minister of Health at the time, Bruno Bruins, expressed that the Netherlands should develop an emergency stock of pharmaceuticals for these kinds of situations back in 2018, but the plans were unfortunately never realised. The price tag of the project at that time was ā‚¬50 million.

Now, with the current crisis, the price tag would be substantially higher.

Risk of deaths that are normally preventable

The current shortage of pharmaceuticals means that people might die from causes that may normally be preventable.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed that it is now looking for ways to build up stock as soon as possible and a decision will be made during summer.

Follow theĀ DutchReview Facebook pageĀ for more updates on COVID-19 in the Netherlands.

Feature Image: freestocks/Pexels

 

 

 

Caterpillars strike nation while it’s down, #cancelcaterpillars

Ailish Lalor
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Caterpillars strike nation while it’s down, #cancelcaterpillars

The Netherlands will be overwhelmed by the oak processionary caterpillar this summer, in addition to its other woes. The protective suits that fighters of the oakĀ processionary caterpillarĀ usually wear are in short supply, as they are being used by healthcare workersĀ treating coronavirus patients.Ā 

The oak processionary caterpillarĀ might not sound like much of a threat- and compared to coronavirus, of course, it isn’t. But it is a real nuisance to anyone who wants to be in nature this summer.Ā Usually, the nests are sucked off trees by people wearing the protective suits because the evil little caterpillars release stinging hairs, which can cause itching, bumps, red spots and eye complaints.

It is definitely not a good idea for people to attempt sucking the caterpillars off the oak trees, according to Marc Kusters of VHG, the Gardener’s Association of the Netherlands. “That would really go wrong,” he said in an interview with NOS.

However, the oak processionary caterpillar is a growing annoyance in the Netherlands: last year 150 in 100,000 people were affected by the stinging hairs, in comparison to 20 in 100,000 as an average of the years before.

Basically, caterpillars are striking us while we’re down, and that’s just not nice. #CancelCaterpillars.

Feature Image: MrsJacqueline/Pixabay

One billion euros from the Netherlands for European coronavirus relief fund, says Hoekstra

Ailish Lalor
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One billion euros from the Netherlands for European coronavirus relief fund, says Hoekstra

After being criticised by SpainĀ and Italy for its lack of compassion, the Netherlands is nowĀ beginning to change its stance on a coronavirusĀ emergency fund for countries particularly hard hit by the virus.

Hoekstra, the Minister for Finance, wants the Netherlands to put about one billion euros into a European emergency fund for countries struggling with coronavirus.

Fund should total between 10 and 20 billion euros

This fund is hoped to total between 10 and 20 billion euros, according to Prime Minister Rutte. He did not want to be more specific about exactly what the Netherlands would put into the fund until it was all established. “I am not going to speculate. We must first see whether that fund will be created.” The amounts countries are expected to donate should be proportional, according to the Prime Minister.

The Netherlands changes its stance

This is a back-track from the Netherlands’ original, fairly harsh position, which was criticised by Spain and Italy. The original plan was to use money from the European Stabilisation Mechanism to help out affected countries, but that would have imposed very strict conditions on those countries (which no one needs right now). Yesterday, Hoekstra admitted that he had not shown enough empathy towards affected countries, and noted that it was in the Netherlands’ interest to have a strong European Union.

Now, the fund will be an emergency fund, which countries will not have to repay.

Follow theĀ DutchReview Facebook pageĀ for more updates on COVID-19 in the Netherlands.

Feature Image: Still of NOS press conference, by DutchReview.Ā 

Virologists expect most coronavirus rules to continue until July at the earliest

Ailish Lalor
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Virologists expect most coronavirus rules to continue until July at the earliest

Bad news if you were hoping to go on vacation this summer- or if you were hoping toĀ resume normal life any time soon.Ā Dutch virologists expect that coronavirus rules, such as the required 1.5 meter distance between people and the closures of restaurants and bars, will persist until July at least.

Most of us probably already knew this, in some dark corner of our brain, but it seems that normal life will not be returning any time soon, NOS reports with a series of interviews with virologists. None of them expect public life to resume before July, and several expect that many of the rules, especially those about public gatherings, may persist into next winter.

Peak of patients expected in May

There is no official prediction from the RIVM yet, and as of Tuesday, the government extended its current measures until April 28. But Director of the RIVM Jaap van Dissel told the House of Representatives on Wednesday that there is still a long way to go. Those of us who paid attention to Rutte’s press conference on Tuesday also won’t be surprised that measures are expected to continue past April 28: Rutte himself said that he would not plan to go away for the May holidays.

He expects the number of people in intensive care will hit its peak in May, and won’t return to current levels until July (that’s 1200 beds occupied, by the way). It is necessary to continue the coronavirus rules until the virus is fully under control, van Dissel says, otherwise you can expect it to just come back again.

A lot is still unknown about the virus

A lot is still uncertain about the virus, and how long it will take to get it under control. Plenty is still unknown: for example, it is not yet clear if children spread the virus. If research shows that they do not, they may be able to return to school sooner than otherwise expected. It is also unclear what percentage of the population is immune to the virus: if that’s higher than expected, we can also return to regular life sooner rather than later.

At the moment, it seems that the transmission rate of the virus is 0.3: a number low enough that if it remains constant, the virus will eventually extinguish itself. However, its ability to do that relies upon our continuation of social distancing measures.

Lifting social distancing measures will be staggered

It is likely that the coronavirus prevention measures will not be lifted all together: instead, they will probably be staggered and targeted. Restaurants will probably reopen before festivals or concert halls, for example.

Despite their uniform prediction that the measures against the virus will persist well after April 28, the virologists thought that it was a good date for the government to have chosen for a reevaluation. More information will be available to them then, including an indication of how effective the current measures are.

FollowĀ DutchReview on FacebookĀ for more information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Feature Image: Free-Photos/Pixabay

Sex workers still open for business, despite coronavirus

Vedika Luthra
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Sex workers still open for business, despite coronavirus

The Red Light district may not be quite so lit due to coronavirus measures that have shut down most businesses across the country. But sex workers are still in business ā€” from home, that is.Ā 

To prevent the spread of coronavirus in the Netherlands, the (former) Minister of Medical Care, Bruno Bruins announced that restaurants, sports clubs and ā€” you guessed it, sex clubs, were to be closed. This announcement was made over two weeks ago.

Additional measures announced on March 24, include the prohibition of contact professions, including escort services and sex workers.

So what does that mean for sex workers?

Working from home

According to NOS, sex workers across the country are, like many of us in the Netherlands, working from home now.

“You shouldn’t think I’m lying around all day,” says Monica (a pseudonym) to NOS. “We also do some kind of work. A lot of my colleagues from the clubs do the same thing, either they work from home or they rent a room with a friend.”

Monica expects that more and more sex workers will increasingly relegate their work to the private sphere. “You can’t go hungry,” she notes. “It’s like the hairdresser, I can’t go there now so they must come to my house. Life continues, but under the radar.”

Money matters

Although the measures have been put into place for a reason, “the rent still has to be paid and the bread still has to be put on the shelf,” escort Lyle Munns of the non-profit brothel, My Red Light states. According to Munn, the longer the lockdown lasts, the more people will return to work to prevent losing customers.

Although some sex workers can claim remuneration from the government through social security schemes and emergency funds, a proportion is not covered here. Firstly, not all prostitutes are self-employed, and not all of them have a DigiD, making it impossible for this group to claim benefits.

Do you think stricter measures should be in place to restrict practices that go against the social distancing measures? Let us know in the comments.

Feature Image: Massimo Catarinella/Wikimedia Commons

See someone break coronavirus measures? Now you can report them through an app

Vlad Moca-Grama
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See someone break coronavirus measures? Now you can report them through an app

In the past couple of weeks, it’s not hard to spot people who are clearly breaking the restrictions in place to contain and limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Well, if you felt like you wanted to take matters into your own hands (which are washed, of course) you’re in luck. Now you can report people who break these rules through a phone app, according to NOS.

MyMunicipality apps options for reporting rule-breakers

In North-Holland, two municipalities, Purmerend and Beemster give MyMunicipality app users an option to submit reports about broken streetlights and that kind of stuff. A new report-category is now activated strictly to limit the spread of coronavirus.

So far, 132 reports have been made through the apps, mostly about groups of three or more people roaming the streets and/or not respecting the distance of 1.5 meters.

What makes the app so efficient is that the report reaches the law straight away, so they can also act faster upon the issue rather than making a phone call that can take longer.

Other municipalities have also implemented a similar category in their app, and another alternative is to call at a specialised police number for these types of issues ā€” 0900-8844.

What about just talking to the people in question?

Obviously, the more preferable option is that you just address the people who break the measures, rather than reporting them outright.

If you do choose to talk to them, there’s a few things you should keep in mind. Carsten de Dreu, Professor of Social and Organisational Psychology at Leiden University, suggests that you should avoid being too blunt in your tone (obviously, a bit of bluntness is expected in the Netherlands) That’s because people who are confronted with their mistakes aggressively are less likely to implement any sort of behavioural change.

A better way of addressing them is by resorting to their common sense and empathy, such as telling them something like ‘I’m worried about my elderly mother, could you help me by keeping a bit more distance?’ That way, they are less likely to lash out at you for confronting them, while also adjusting their behaviour accordingly.

Reports also made for commercial crimes

People have not only reported social distancing or group misdoings, but so-called commercial crimes as well. This includes businesses that are still open, such as bars that bring their clients through the backdoor, gyms that are still operating, or even brothels.

So far, 90 such cases have been reported to the police.

Should a coronavirus crime category be added to all local municipality apps? And it this being a good citizen or just a bit too much? Let us know in the comments!

Feature Image: natureaddict/Pixabay.
https://pixabay.com/nl/photos/pokemon-games-digitale-elektronica-1543556/

7 ways to find and get the Cheapest and Best Internet Provider in the Netherlands in 2019

Emma Brown
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7 ways to find and get the Cheapest and Best Internet Provider in the Netherlands in 2019

Finding the cheapest and best internet provider in the Netherlands

There are so many questions when it comes to sorting out your internet provider. What internet providers are there in the Netherlands? How do I find the cheapest internet provider in the Netherlands? What sort of internet do I need? What’s the best internet provider in the Netherlands? What do I do if I’m only in Holland temporarily? If you’ve just moved here and are looking for the cheapest and best internet in the Netherlands or are feeling a bit lost and not sure where or what to look for when buying an internet package, then, as usual, DutchReview has come to the rescue. šŸ˜‰

Finding the best internet in the Netherlands does not have to be a hard or expensive task. You just need to know what internet package will be best suited to you and how to make the most of your money (hey, you’re in the Netherlands after all)! But how?

We teamed up with Prijsvergelijken, an expat-friendly comparison site, to help you find the best internet for you in Holland!

 

1. Check which companies provide internet within your area

You may not get access to every internet provider where you live and that’s because there are only two large network providers in the Netherlands: Ziggo/Vodafone (cable network) and KPN (DSL network). You are able to go with other smaller providers such as Online and T-Mobile and these operate on the larger networks. You can choose between DSL, cable and fibre connections, but again, this depends on where you’re living.

I know, I know, it gets even more confusing when it’s all based on your address. However, there are ways to make it less confusing. Sites such as Prijsvergelijken ask for the address straight away, so they will only show you the current plans available in your area. So if you spot an incredible internet deal – then you’ll be good to go!

 

2. Decide what internet speed you need

Buying an internet package is not just “oh, that’ll do” and that’s it (I mean you could, but it’s not ideal). Some providers will attempt to draw you in by offering really high internet speeds. However, that doesn’t mean that internet speed will be available in your area. Note: VDSL and ASDL connections are much slower than fibre and cable in general – so go for the faster one if you can! However, make sure to check your max speed through your address, as you may find that you won’t be able to achieve that speed.

 

You also need to work out how many people will be using the internet at one time (how large your household is) and also what you’ll be using the internet for. For example, one person using the internet uses a lot less bandwidth than a family of four. If four of you are using it, naturally, the internet would slow down. How you are using the internet also affects it. Are you just meaninglessly scrolling through Facebook (yup, I feel you), or are you streaming lots on Netflix (again, I feel you), or both? These all make a difference and that’s what you need to determine when you buy your internet.

Hey, we’re not here to judge, but if you spend your days uploading selfies to Instagram while streaming criminal dramas on Netflix, then you’re going to need a decent internet provider. Livin’ the dream.

best internet provider in the Netherlands

 

3. Use a comparison site to choose the best internet provider

By far the easiest way to find the best internet (and the best price!) is to use a comparison site. Comparison sites not only allow you to find the cheapest package, but you will be able to compare them alongside one another all in one place. Going through each provider one by one would take forever (plus, you may not even know what to look for in the first place).

Prijsvergelijken is a comparison site which is easy to use (has an English option – ideal!), fast and accurate. Using comparison sites like these automatically filter out any providers not available in your area from a quick address search and show prices and services provided with the different internet packages. It saves time so you can have more time Netflix-ing and less time browsing for your provider.

 

4. Look at the contract terms to avoid penalties

Reading the small print is always something you’re meant to do, but not always something we actually do. In situations such as contracts, it’s really important that you read the small print in order to avoid penalties. If you’re an expat, then you may not be here for the full year – so in this case, you definitely should be reading the small print!

Most contracts are for a minimum 1-year term, which means that when you join with them, you are essentially committing to that internet for a whole year. But what if you don’t need it for a whole year? In general, if you cancel your subscription before your term has ended, you will likely have to pay a penalty fee. The penalty fee is usually what you would have had to pay for the year anyway. However, this can amount to quite a lot if you’re cancelling after only a couple of months. Bear this in mind, as it may be better just to buy mobile internet and hook it up to your computer.

Looking to cancel a subscription past a year?

So maybe you’ve just seen a better deal and you’ve been with your current internet provider for over a year. By law, you are allowed to leave this subscription with 1-month notice – so no fees for you!

 

5. Look at the deals the provider is putting on

Many internet companies provide deals such as “first month gratis/free” or “half price for three months” and other enticing deals. Sometimes they are excellent and an absolute steal and other times it really is just a ploy to get you to go with them over a cheaper alternative. When looking at these deals it’s important to see how much you will be charged AFTER this deal has ended.

Look at their starter deals BUT also don’t fall into the trap – sometimes after these deals are over, the rate is much higher every month after that, so look at the overall cost for the year. For example, one company may be giving you 3 months cheaper, but it’s 20 euros more expensive per month after. This is in comparison to another company offering a worse start-deal, which is definitely still cheaper overall. At Prijsvergelijken you can check this month and yearly price easily. Be more Dutch – research and seal that great money-saving deal!

 

6. Consider combining your package to get a cheaper deal

Are you looking to get a TV or mobile package as well as your internet? Then consider getting a combined package from a company, as this will likely be cheaper and of course much, much easier overall. Some companies will offer this as an add-on option when buying your internet and the others you may need to delve a little deeper.

On Prijsvergelijken, they will ask you straight away whether you are looking for just an internet connection, or other services too. This way you can compare packages instantly. It’s never been easier to get that great deal with minimal effort. Now you can WhatsApp your mates on your mobile, watch Brexit unfold on the news on your TV and stream cat videos on your computer, all under one package. Result.

 

7. Consider an expat-friendly provider when getting internet in the Netherlands

Moving to the Netherlands is stressful enough as it is, without having to worry about bills and what companies to deal with (IN DUTCH). Sure, Google translate has become the biggest saviour of all time, but we’ve all become victims to the poor translation more times than once. Prijsvergelijken has an English option, meaning that you can browse the different companies all in English. This ensures that you know what you’re dealing with and you can avoid all of those awkward and nonsensical Google translate moments. Brownie points if you can pronounce Prijsvergelijken BTW. šŸ˜‰

Honestly, before you sign up to something, you really need to make sense of it.

So there you have it – 7 ways of finding the cheapest and best internet provider in the Netherlands. With Prijsvergelijken, finding that Dutch internet has never been easier.

* Oh, and have all our Giphy’s not loaded? Then time to get that new internet provider; you really wouldn’t want to miss out on those. šŸ˜‰

Any other hints and tips on finding the best internet provider in the Netherlands? Let us know in the comments!

Coronavirus update: 13,614 total cases, with an increase of 1,019 patients since last count

Vlad Moca-Grama
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0
Coronavirus update: 13,614 total cases, with an increase of 1,019 patients since last count

The RIVM has published the latest count of coronavirus cases in the Netherlands. The new number is 13,614 cases. This is an increase of 1,019 cases since yesterday’s count, with 134 more deaths (total: 1173) and 447 more hospitalizations (5159 in total).Ā 

For what it’s worth, the number of deaths and hospitalizations are lower than they were yesterday. But it’s important to remember that the numbers might be off by a bit, as the RIVM also has reported.

The big news of yesterday and today was of course that the Netherlands has decided to extend the deadline of the existing measure until the date of April 28. What else was happening on the coronavirus front today?

A vaccine in the works for coronavirus by a pharmaceutical company in Leiden

A vaccine is currently being researched and produced by pharmaceutical company Janssen, which previously worked on an Ebola vaccine together with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, part of the US Department of Health.

The vaccine has already received an investment of one billion dollars, and the first tests reveal that the vaccine creates antibodies that latch on to the virus and eliminate it.

First trials on people will begin in September of this year, and if it all goes well, we might see the vaccine being given to the general population in the beginning of 2021.

101-year-old coronavirus patient in the Netherlands leaves hospital after being treated

Another positive news is that a 101-year-old woman was released from a hospital in Ā IJsselland after being successfully treated for coronavirus.

Her daughter praised the hospital staff for their prompt and helpful interventions, as well as for keeping her informed on her mother’s situation.

The woman will now be transferred to the Aafje Care Hotel, which is a section in the Ā Maasstad Hospital designed for recovering coronavirus patients.

Check out our coronavirus guide

If you need a centralized source of information on the coronavirus in the Netherlands, we’ve gathered all relevant information in one article, which is updated daily.

Follow theĀ DutchReview Facebook page for more updates on COVID-19 in the Netherlands.

Feature Image: DutchReview/Canva

 

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