As the Netherlands battles to contain the coronavirus epidemic sweeping the world, the country’s numbers continue to rise. In the past 24 hours, 852 patients have tested positive for the highly infectious disease. Meanwhile, 80 people have died. 

This is according to the latest results from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). It brings the Dutch totals to 6412 infections and 356 deaths.

The Netherlands continues to operate a strict recommendation of self-isolation to reduce the spread and #FlattenTheCurve. (and obviously, #washyourhands)

What developments occurred today?

We did get some good news today. According to Jaap van Dissel, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Control (CIB) of RIVM, the growth of coronavirus infections in the Netherlands is declining.

What does this mean? Instead of patients infecting two or more other people, now they are infecting one or less. That means we could see a drop in daily infection rates soon.

Van Dissel toont een hoopgevende grafiek: het aantal corona-patiënten opgenomen in het ziekenhuis neemt al een paar dagen af. pic.twitter.com/UZ8P1ZFKQm

— Marieke v/d Zilver (@mvdz_) March 25, 2020

READ MORE: RIVM: growth of coronavirus infections in the Netherlands is declining

Meanwhile, we got confirmation that the Dutch patient zero has recovered to a point where he can go back to work — and we’re counting that as a win.

If you have children staying at home with you while you’re trying to get some work done, the news is less good: school closures may remain in place for six more weeks — or more. It all depends on a study RIVM is undertaking to find out how much children and youth contribute to infection rates.

What measures are currently in place?

The current measures implemented in the Netherlands include:

• Ensuring a minimum distance 1.5 metres away from other people where possible, including supermarkets.
• Encouraging people to work from home
• Schools to remain closed, but free childcare provided at schools and childcare centres for children of key workers, such as healthcare professionals, emergency services, and public transport.
• Teachers to arrange distance learning for other students who are at home.
• People with a runny nose, cough, sore throat or fever told to self-quarantine. If symptoms worsen to include a fever above 38 degrees and difficulty breathing they can call a doctor for advice.
• Those in vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and immune-compromised people, to avoid gatherings and public transport.
• Restaurants closed until at least Monday, April 6. However, delivery and takeaway service are still available. (This is a great way to support local businesses.)
• Coffee shops are open for takeaway only.
• Sports clubs, gyms, saunas, sex clubs and coffee shops will also remain closed to Monday April 6 (inclusive).
• All gatherings of more than 100 people have been cancelled. Public places like museums, concert venues, theatres, sports clubs and sports events have been closed or cancelled.

Check out our guide to the coronavirus in the Netherlands

If you want to look at a centralized source of information about the current outbreak in the Netherlands, you can check out our guide, which is updated daily. We also have an informational video on the topic.

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

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All praise and say hallelujah! We don’t have a real religious standpoint here, but lordy be we will praise the stroopwafel god for this: the coronavirus outbreak may be starting to be contained. 

At least, according to Jaap van Dissel, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Control (CIB) of RIVM — and that sounds like a pretty fancy title so we’re kind of inclined to trust him.

In a briefing with the House of Representatives this morning Van Dissel said that the measures taken to manage the outbreak have caused the outbreak to start to level off. He even said we’re seeing a “positive trend” — you hear that? Positive!

READ MORE: Good news: the first Dutch coronavirus patient has fully recovered and returned to work

Alright, alright, we won’t get our hopes too high, because he also said that this is an estimate. According to the current figures, the number of patients who infects another person is one, or less. Before, most patients transmitted the virus to at least two other people. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you: progress.

Van Dissel toont een hoopgevende grafiek: het aantal corona-patiënten opgenomen in het ziekenhuis neemt al een paar dagen af. pic.twitter.com/UZ8P1ZFKQm

— Marieke v/d Zilver (@mvdz_) March 25, 2020

The outbreak has probably also levelled “because not all hospitalized patients are tested”. But, according to Van Dissel, even taking this into account it’s looking good. “The exponential growth of the outbreak is therefore likely to halt.” That will give hospitals a fighting chance at taking care of very sick patients.

What now?

Let’s reiterate: this doesn’t mean that we’ll necessarily see fewer infections anytime soon. It just means those who are infected are likely infecting fewer people. It could take a while before this is reflected in daily statistics.

READ MORE: Coronavirus in the Netherlands: all you need to know (updated daily)

So does that mean you should rip open your front door and go party in a nightclub? Nah mate. Let’s be clear: there is a positive trend only because of the measures in place. We all have to keep doing our part to stay at home and #FlattenTheCurve. Then, we’ll (hopefully) keep seeing progress.

Are you happy to hear the news that staying at home isn’t necessarily in vain? Tell us in the comments below! Don’t forget to follow DutchReview on Facebook for all the information (good and bad) about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Coronavirus has been a slap in the face of huge numbers of industries, but Keukenhof rose to the occasion (get it? I’m sorry). If you’re hiding in self-isolation and dreaming of those stretching, colourful tulip fields, we have good news: you can still see them in all their glory. 

Alright, maybe not all their glory, but at least through the magic of the internet. Turns out Keukenhof has a budding romance with video, releasing incredible footage and virtual tours of their blooms for the world to see.

The Keukenhof has been hard at work growing an amazing array of flowers for the public. While every year millions of locals and tourists flock to see the blooms, this year the parking lot will be empty. The effects of coronavirus are being felt right before Keukenhof was preparing to fling open their gates for spring 2020.

Some videos have already been released online, and Keukenhof is at hard work preparing more. Look, if we can’t see the real thing this is surely a nice runner-up prize 😉

Nice one, Keukenhof — we’re rooting for you!

Will you be exploring Keukenhof via the magical internet? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: skeeze/Pixabay

Dutch schools planning to reopen after April 6 may find themselves taking a far longer recess. Education Minister Slob has confirmed it’s likely schools will remain closed for up to another six weeks — or longer. 

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) are undertaking a study into the role of children and young people in spreading coronavirus.

Minister Slob would like to wait for the results before ringing the school bell. However, the study only began yesterday and could take up to six weeks.

“If it is later than April 6, the measures as they have been taken will be extended and the schools will be closed for a longer time,” Slob told Op1. “Only when the investigation is finished will a decision be made whether the schools will open again.”

Six weeks would put the school reopening date back to May at the earliest.

What is the research looking at?

It is currently still being studied how infectious children are when it comes to coronavirus. The Dutch study will compile the data of 100 families infected with coronavirus throughout the Netherlands.

Do you have a child home from school? Would you like to see schools reopen sooner, or later? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Feature Image: Wokandapix/Pixabay

Today, we’re not starting the day by scratching yet another “Days in Isolation” tally line on our wall, no sir! We’re way too preoccupied with the good news that the first Dutch coronavirus patient has fully recovered — to the point where he can return to work. 

That’s right,  it’s the news we all need: there is light at the end of the tunnel. While the patient was confirmed to have recovered around two weeks ago, he’s now been given the all-clear to get back to normal life (well, the new normal anyway.)

The first recovered patient was also unsurprisingly the first patient who tested positive in the Netherlands. He is a 56-year-old from Loon op Zand, near Tilburg and tested positive on February 27 after visiting Italy’s Lombardy region.

READ MORE: Coronavirus in the Netherlands: all you need to know (updated daily)

Tilburg mayor Theo Weterings shared the news on talk show Jinek last night. We’re all breathing a sigh of relief because boy, it’s been a long month.

The man’s wife and 23-year-old daughter also tested positive for the virus — and we’re happy to report that they’re also currently symptom-free.

Of course, it’s not all good news. At last count yesterday we still had 5560 patients infected with coronavirus in the Netherlands. Sadly, Dutch fatalities from the virus are at least 213.

READ MORE: Coronavirus cases in Netherlands jump to 5560, another 63 patients dead

But, it’s still early in the morning DutchReviewers! We’ve undoubtedly got some more not-so-good news coming our way — but let’s hope there’s more good news in the pipeline too. For now, hold this close to your hearts, take a deep breath, and stay inside.

Are you happy to hear about the first Dutch recovery? Tell us how you’re feeling in the comments below!

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

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The risk of infection with coronavirus does not come only from people, but also through contact with infected surfaces — like credit card machines. 

In order to curb the risk of infection, the Dutch Payments Association has implemented a system change that now allows customers to pay up to 50 euros using contactless technology, reports RTL Nieuws.

Vanaf deze week aan de kassa per #betaling tot en met 50 euro zónder pincode contactloos afrekenen, met een bankpas, smartphone of wearable https://t.co/DYnzF9TI8L #corona #TweetvdDag pic.twitter.com/TIQkvuPjhU

— NVB (@bankensector) March 24, 2020

How does the new system work?

Customers do not need to do anything to implement these changes, as they have occurred automatically in around 380,000 payment terminals. Some of them have already been updated in places like supermarkets, with more places to follow by the end of the week.

This is great news because given how many people are touching pin machines the odds for infection is quite high, both for the customer paying and the employee handling the machine.

Voor de verhoging van de limieten voor contactloos betalen zonder pincode hoeven consumenten én winkeliers zelf helemaal niets te doen! Banken gaan hierover dus ook geen ongevraagde berichten sturen of klanten bellen. Laat je niet misleiden door oplichters met valse berichten!

— Betaalvereniging (@NLbetalen) March 24, 2020

There’s also been an increase in the cumulative limit. The cumulative limit refers to how many times you can pay contactless before a PIN is requested. It is now 100 euros, from the previous limit of 50 euros.

Once the crisis is over, the limit will go down again. A spokesperson from the Dutch Payments Association has confirmed that customers cannot manually bring down the sum.

Options for those who do not want a higher limit

The spokesperson has said that there are options for those who are not satisfied with these new measures. For example, they can deactivate contactless completely and have to enter their PIN every time. Why anyone would want to wish exposure is a different story altogether.

Pictured above: social distancing done right, except that they should be working from home

Alternatively, you can also set a daily limit to your debit card payments, or you can ask for a card from ABN AMRO which does not have contactless payment on it. Or better yet, you can just use contactless and avoid the risk of infection!

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

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The RIVM (Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) has published the new number of coronavirus cases, now reaching 5560 cases. This is an increase of 811 patients since the last count.

Because people have been disrespecting governmental policies on social distancing, new measures have been implemented this week.

Fewer customers allowed in supermarkets

There will be a cap on the number of customers allowed to enter supermarkets. This is in order to ensure a minimum distance of 1.5 meters between customers.

Fewer shopping baskets will be available, and once the maximum number of customers is reached, those who want to enter will need to wait so that another customer leaves. These policies are implemented to protect both the employees and the customers.

Remembrance Day and Liberation Day are cancelled

May brings with it two events of great historical significance to the Netherlands. May 4, Remembrance Day, is an opportunity to remember all Dutch people who have lost their lives in conflicts around the world. Meanwhile, May 5, Liberation Day, is dedicated to the liberation of the Netherlands during WW2 from the Nazis.

Unfortunately, both of these events have been cancelled, given the new policy banning all events until the first of June. This is not to say that the Dutch will not find a way to celebrate these events, be it from their windows and balconies.

School exams cancelled

For better or for worse, the centralized school exams for this year’s school year have been cancelled. The exams were due to start on the 7th of May. Instead, now pupils will receive their final marks based on their previous marks in school exams as not to delay their process of continuing their education. This new policy was announced by the Minister of Education this morning, reports NOS.

Check out our guide to the coronavirus in the Netherlands

If you want to look at a centralized source of information about the current outbreak in the Netherlands, you can check out our guide, which is updated daily. We also have an informational video on the topic.

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

Feature Image: DutchReview/Canva