The coronavirus outbreak brings several challenges to hospitals, the medical staff and the available resources.

Be it the number of beds in intensive care, the number of protective masks or ventilators, hospitals either need to order in advance what they anticipate they might need, or get creative with what they already have.

One ventilator for several patients

The Dutch Association of Intensive Care (NVIC) suggests, in case of an emergency situation, to use one ventilator (made for aiding patients in breathing in severe cases of coronavirus) for several patients, reports RTL Nieuws.

The suggestion comes after concerns that the number of available beds in intensive care units is quite small. Numbers published by the NVIC show that last night 644 patients were admitted in intensive care, 98 more than the day before.

As mentioned above, patients who are strongly affected by coronavirus develop breathing problems, which when left unchecked, can severely damage the lungs. Ventilators are used to help the patient breathe, and this process can take up to several weeks.

Manual made by the NVIC

The NVIC developed an instruction manual if the need comes to connect several patients to one ventilator.  Overall, the measure is temporary, and the best-case scenario is that all patients have their own individual ventilators, as the ventilators were not designed to take in several patients. Thankfully, modern ventilators have a stronger output than just one patient requires, which is why the NVIC has recommended using one for several patients.

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Roche pharmaceuticals is a large part of the reason there is not yet widespread testing for coronavirus. The company does not have enough test materials to supply Dutch laboratories, but they are also standing in the way of workaround solutions, de Telegraaf reports. 

Vendor lock-in is preventing the production of coronavirus tests

Roche is a market leader in the Netherlands, and has used this privilege to create what is called a vendor lock-in, according to research by Follow the Money. That means that laboratories which use Roche machinery to make medicines or do experiments also have to use Roche materials to do so. Because Roche is experiencing a shortage of the materials necessary for coronavirus tests, Dutch laboratories haven’t been able to allow for the widespread testing that was so effective in halting the spread of coronavirus in other countries like South Korea.

Roche could share the prescription with Dutch laboratories

You might feel some form of sympathy for Roche if they were just underprepared for the scale of coronavirus: almost everyone was. But the problem is that there is a solution to this shortage, but Roche is refusing to take it presently because of its impact on their profits. Roche could share the prescription for one of the elements of the testing materials, called a lysis buffer, with Dutch laboratories. It would be very easy for the laboratories to make this once they had the prescription, and that could in turn ease the shortage of tests.

So far, they are refusing to do so

Roche has been getting lots of media attention over the past couple of days. In an interview with de Volkskrant, Dutch microbiologist Dr Ann Vossen was hoping that Roche would share the prescription for the lysis buffer. When asked by Follow the Money whether they would provide this information in this time of crisis, Roche declined to respond. It seems like the shortage will continue for a while to come, even though there is no need for it, nor the suffering it will cause.

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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!

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