Advice OMT: Christmas with a maximum of 6 guests, preferably from the neighborhood | Inland

It is ultimately up to politics whether the corona rules are relaxed during Christmas, the virologists indicate. The cabinet usually adopts the OMT recommendations. A group in which senior officials from the Ministry of Health are represented, is already embracing the advice, according to the letter from health care minister De Jonge. During Tuesday’s press conference, he and Prime Minister Mark Rutte Jonge did not want to anticipate Christmas further than there may be a relaxation.

The OMT advises the cabinet to identify the risks of relaxation. If too many people come together, there is a good chance that the epidemic will revive, while the number of infections will decrease.

Even if households invite up to six family members or friends for Christmas, it is still important to keep a distance of 1.5 meters from each other. Moreover, the cabinet cannot continue to emphasize the ‘basic agreements’ (wash hands, stay at home in case of complaints) enough, according to the OMT. This is especially important when it concerns the elderly or vulnerable, for example lung patients. The virus can strike severely in those groups.

Ten days

That is why the OMT also proposes additional measures to be able to celebrate Christmas in a larger context. The cabinet could advise people to allow even fewer visitors and to have less contact with others than usual ten days before visiting grandparents on Christmas.

The holidays are an important point to look forward to for many people, which is why the government also wants to see what is possible during Christmas. Corona Minister Hugo de Jonge did give a profit warning during the press conference on Tuesday evening: not everything will be possible during Christmas. “We have to be very careful that we do not give ourselves a third wave,” says the minister, referring to a possible third major revival of the virus.

Infections that take place behind the front door are still a concern of the cabinet. And examples from abroad, where infections increased sharply after the celebration of a national holiday, make the cabinet reluctant to loosen the reins.

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