A free app that checks and records symptoms of coronavirus for residents of Amsterdam has already detected 2,849 potential cases. The app has been used over a million times in the past two weeks.

OLVG corona check was developed by Onze Lieve Vrouwen Gasthuis (OLVG) hospital and Amsterdam tech company Luscii. It provides online help tracking and assessing complaints that could point to coronavirus. 64,000 people have downloaded the app already, and 52,000 have been regularly using the app.

Users monitor any symptoms on a daily basis by recording answers to a number of questions: do they have a sore throat? A fever? A cold? Shortness of breath? A cough?

From there, a hospital medical team then assesses whether care is needed. Hospital staff contact at-risk users by phone or WhatsApp within 24-hours.

Twee weken na lancering OLVG Corona check zijn er 52.000 actieve gebruikers; zijn 21.290 telefoongesprekken gevoerd; is bij 2849 personen op basis vd richtlijnen een #COVID19 verdenking gesteld waarvoor quarantaine advies; 35 zijn doorverwezen naar SEH. https://t.co/CeWyCk8ltu pic.twitter.com/XUYECp6Bv7

— Maurice vd Bosch (@MauricevdBosch) March 30, 2020

The app could help the Amsterdam healthcare system avoid unnecessary stress. So far it’s been so successful that other Dutch hospitals plan to use it. Already, UMC Utrecht has made the app accessible to Utrechters.

How can I get the app?

Currently, the app is only accessible to people in certain postcodes. Residents of greater Amsterdam, Amstelveen, Zaanstad and Almere can register via this link. Utrechters must head to this website.

The app could soon be available to up to 4.7 million people. However, the hospital maintains that the app does not replace regular or emergency care.

Would you use an app like this? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

The coronavirus outbreak has been not only been a challenge to individual European countries but for the European Union as a whole.

Recently, in an open letter published in a German newspaper, Italy has accused the Netherlands of showing a lack of solidarity during the current coronavirus outbreak, reports NOS.

Lack of financial support for hard-hit countries in Southern Europe

The open letter was written by 12 Italian mayors, governors of different regions and a member of the European Parliament.

EU feud between Italy & NL goes next level. Prominent Italians (economists, governors and mayors) publish letter in Frankfurter Algemeine asking Germans to distance themselves from the Netherlands – country that’s “not ethical and inclusive” (v @paulkirbyuk) #coronavirus https://t.co/i5v86Jp1VF

— anna holligan 🎙 (@annaholligan) March 31, 2020

In their view, the Netherlands is the head of a group of different countries that are blocking more financial support for countries that have been strongly affected by the outbreak, especially countries in Southern Europe, including Italy. Germany is called upon in the letter to not join this group of countries which do not offer support.

Italy has been left feeling unsupported by its fellow EU countries during the crisis. Italian newspapers over this past month have criticized the Dutch approach of not allowing more money to be freed up for loaning through the EU emergency fund ESM and Eurobonds.

This crisis cannot end with our countries being put up for sale. In this moment, we have to strengthen our Union and its market. Countries that are still hestitant about this – who will you sell your technology or tulips to, if the European market is not protected? pic.twitter.com/HeUehTBCGC

— David Sassoli (@EP_President) March 28, 2020

The criticism went even further, with some newspaper describing Prime-Minister Mark Rutte as being ‘cruel’, and that the Netherlands is a tax haven for Italian corporations, therefore not allowing their tax revenue to be invested back into Italy, reports NRC.

Criticism on the Facebook page of the Dutch Embassy in Italy

Italians have flocked over to the Facebook page of the Dutch Embassy in Italy to express their dismay at the Dutch approach at the European Union level. While some people express understanding, many have expressed their anger.

There have been calls for boycotting Dutch products, and people have described the Dutch as being selfish and ‘brutal money lenders’.

People go even further, using examples from history, from the slave trade to the Dutch response during the fall of Srebrenica.

A difference of opinions in Dutch politics

Not all Dutch politicians agree with their country’s official stance as of now. For example, Gert-Jan Segers, leader of the ChristenUnie political party, said during a talk show on Op1 that a financial support plan similar to the Marshall Plan (developed to help Western countries after WW2) needs to be established and that Italy needs to be helped. This echoes a similar message of support from D66 leader Rob Jetten.

Should the Netherlands demonstrate more solidarity for European countries as the coronavirus outbreak unfolds? Let us know in the comments.

Feature Image: Sebastiaan ter Burg/Flickr

The current coronavirus measures are due to expire on the 6th of April. However, they could soon be extended. 

The government is discussing today how long the measures will last, reports RTL Nieuws.

Duration of the new extension of the measures is unknown

As of now, it is unknown when the new deadline for the measures will be. We will probably find out tomorrow evening when a press conference is held at 7 PM.

Today, the cabinet is meeting with experts and officials from the Ministry of Health in order to discuss and see exactly until when the new extensions will be applied, and if any further measures are necessary.

Insiders from the cabinet have stated that the possibility of the extension could run-up to the end of April or even early May. Part of the discussion today is to see what to do about the upcoming May school holidays.

The government wants to transmit a clear message tomorrow so that people will know what the situation is and plan accordingly.

Which measures will be extended?

First, catering venues, restaurants, schools and bars will continue to remain closed. Events, in general will also continue to be prohibited, including licensed events, up to the June 1.

Mayors are also allowed to close certain locations such as beaches or parks, after last weekend saw huge groups of people going to public places.

People must stay at home as much as possible and shopping must be done alone. Children are still allowed to play outside, but it’s best that the adults stay inside.

If you have a fever or a member of your family has a fever, you are all required to stay indoors. Finally, you must respect the necessary distance of 1.5 metres, otherwise your risk a fine of up to 390 euros.

All of these measures could be extended tomorrow from their previous deadline of 6th of April.

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Feature Image: Minister-president Rutte/Flickr

The RIVM has published the new numbers of coronavirus cases in the Netherlands. As of now, there are 11,750 confirmed cases in the Netherlands. This is an increase of 884 cases since the last count, with 93 more deaths as well.

The Netherlands is now in the top 10 countries when it comes to coronavirus cases, and the number is expected to increase over the following weeks.

2500 patients could be in intensive care within the next two weeks

Mathematical models developed by the RIVM suggest that by mid-April, we might have 2500 patients requiring intensive care.

Given that the Netherlands only has around 1100 intensive care units in the whole country, if they do not manage to import more ICU’s the odds are that the Dutch healthcare system will be overwhelmed.

However, it’s possible that the number of infections has started to flatten, so we might see fewer hospitalizations in the following weeks.

Passengers from New York allowed to enter the country without any additional medical checks

The United States is now the country with the highest number of coronavirus cases, exceeding even the cases in China. Passengers who arrive from New York, which is one of the epicentres of the outbreak in the US, are allowed to go through Schiphol without any medical checks.

This decision is not from Schiphol Airport, but to the government and their list of risk countries. Countries that are on the list are banned from landing in the Netherlands. Considering that now the US has the highest number of cases in the world, it could be probable that it might get added to the list soon.

Check out our coronavirus guide and video

If you want a centralized source of information, we have gathered up all info about the coronavirus in the Netherlands in one article, updated daily.

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Over the past couple of weeks, the RIVM has been running different mathematical models to predict the spread and impact of the coronavirus in the Netherlands.

The models take into account the attempts taken so far to contain the spread of the virus, such as the new social distancing measures, reports NOS.

The RIVM expected to see the effects of the measures by this week, however, the numbers are less positive than initially thought. The most positive model made last week will not come to fruition, according to Jacco Wallinga, chief modeller for the RIVM.

What do the current models predict?

Initially, the models predicted there would 1000 ICU patients by the beginning of April, but that number has already been reached. The new models predict 2500 patients in intensive care by mid-April.

The issue now is ensuring hospital systems can cope with the number of patients. As of now, there’s only 1100 total intensive care beds in the Netherlands. Therefore, if the projection of 2500 patients is reached, the Dutch healthcare system will simply be overwhelmed.

The increase of numbers of projected patients is because the RIVM is now assuming that, on average, a patient will stay in intensive care for 23 days, rather than the earlier projected model which assumed 10 days.

Some good news

According to the RIVM, the flattening of the curve has started to happen. This number is primarily based on hospital admissions, but with this statistic, some time needs to pass before the figure is also visible in daily infection rates.

Essentially, now the odds of someone infecting other people is under one. Before the 16th of March, the rate was two. According to Wallinga, the growth rate has slowed down, but it’s still higher than initially anticipated. That means that the rate people are infecting each other is now less — therefore the curve is becoming less steep than without containment measures in place.

In Noord-Brabant, the rate of hospital admissions has slowed down over the last couple of days, and it is possible that the peak has already been reached there, especially given that measures were implemented there before the rest of the country.

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The Dutch province of Zeeland has closed the area to tourists. Dutch families with a second home in the beach region have also been told by neighbours and authorities to leave. 

The ban on non-registered people came into effect at noon today, Het Parool reports. Veiligheidsregio (The Safety Region) has banned all tourist accommodation “in view of the limited size of the care capacity and the urgent shortage of GPs.”

But the region hasn’t limited the bans just to holiday homes. Ebel Kemeling (52) from Amsterdam wanted to escape to their second home in Zeeland with his girlfriend and two children. However, they found they weren’t welcome. A neighbourhood Whatsapp group said Eigen volk eerst — or, ‘own people first.’

“People have also come to the door to tell us to leave. That was very emotional for my wife and that was also the main reason to leave,” Kemeling told Het Parool.

“I don’t think they can prohibit us from using our own home at all. They do not have that authority at all,” he continued. “Moreover, the house is designated as a second home on the zoning plan, not as a holiday home.”

Not allowed

Kemeling has been told that even though his family has owned the home for 70 years, his family cannot be there. “They want to send everyone to the house where they are registered.”

He can understand why holiday-makers should not be allowed in the region but says he works from home. “We don’t have any time off at all, we’re just working. So there is no question of recreational stay at all. Strange,” said Kemeling.

The Amsterdammer plans to take his case further. “I am considering summary proceedings. The house has been in the family for seventy years and now we are being expelled. That is simply not allowed. I am convinced that I win.”

Do you think Dutch provinces should be able to turn away non-registered residents during the pandemic? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Feature Image: Andreas Poznanski/Pixabay

The state of New York in the United States has been one of the hardest struck regions by the coronavirus. 

While the region is now undergoing a lockdown, that does not prevent passengers from leaving by plane and travelling abroad. Those who arrive in the Netherlands from the hard-hit region do not undergo any additional check-ups once arriving on Dutch soil, reports RTL Nieuws.

No medical check-ups

While in other countries, passengers arriving from regions which are strongly hit by the coronavirus have their temperature checked and asked if they have any complaints, at Schiphol, they are free to go. They need to respect, however, the necessary social distancing rules of 1.5 metres.

According to Schiphol, it is not their choice to make if to give medical check-ups or not. That choice belongs to the Government.

Dutch Cabin Crew Association expresses concerns

The Dutch Cabin Crew Association (VNC) have expressed their concerns over the current policy in regards to passengers coming from New York. They are worried about the risks presented to cabin crews coming in contact with potentially infected passengers. So far, seven flights occur per week to New York.

The VNC would like that New York is added to the list of risk countries, which are then prevented from flying to the Netherlands. So far on the list, there’s China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, Spain and Austria.

Who determines exactly which countries go on the risk list?

The risk countries are determined by the RIVM and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports. As of now, the United States is not considered a risk country.

When asked about the issue, a spokesperson from the RIVM has said that given the current measures, the assumption is that who presents symptoms will simply stay home.

How much people respect the current measures is, however, a different issue entirely.

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Feature Image: Jyi1693/ Wikimedia Commons