Thursday, April 9, 2020, 10:46 PM
–
–
–
–
PROVINCE OF UTRECHT –
The corona virus controls our lives. In this live blog, RTV Utrecht keeps you informed of all events within n outside the province. In brief:
– Municipality of Utrecht calls to celebrate Easter at home
– After Zeist, Baarn is also fining corona offenders faster
– Rutte excludes that we will immediately have our old life back after 28 April
– Place your photo on our map and visualize corona
9:35 pm
Crowds at waste stations
It is very busy at the waste stations in Mijdrecht and Abcoude. It is so busy that traffic jams sometimes occur and it is therefore difficult to keep 1.5 meters away. The municipality of De Ronde Venen therefore asks people to come only if this is really necessary.
9:33 pm
Deliver flowers to the chronically ill
Emma (22) from Utrecht did not want to sit still during the corona crisis and delivers orchids to the chronically ill on behalf of Handjehelpen. Sweet!
Helping hands links volunteers to the disabled or chronically ill, but because of corona, normal activities are now suspended.–
7:37 pm
Stages sound the alarm
A third of the Dutch stages are in danger of going bankrupt if government support is not provided before 1 June. “It is an unreal situation that we are in,” says Harold Warmelink of theater De Flint in Amersfoort. Read a great story about the Utrecht stages here.
7:24 pm
Violating Corona rules in public transport is punished severely
People who misbehave in public transport during the corona crisis are dealt with harshly and can be convicted by means of quick justice. Infrastructure Minister Van Nieuwenhuizen says that sometimes bizarre incidents happen.
Some travelers behave aggressively towards drivers or ‘think it’s funny to cough and sneeze on buttons and door handles,’ says Van Nieuwenhuizen.
6:32 pm
Returnees from corona area in home quarantine
Dutch nationals who have been in a corona risk area must now be kept at home for two weeks. The Cabinet cannot oblige people to do this, but urges Dutch people who have recently visited risk countries such as Italy, Spain or Austria.
6.02 pm
Ice rink in Rhenen can open despite corona
It is beautiful spring weather and therefore time for an ice cream. But now that almost all catering establishments are closed, it is more difficult to get a little cool that way. In Rhenen, an ice cream shop has taken all kinds of measures so that people can enjoy their favorite ice cream, without it becoming too busy.
“We have all made boxes outside. And people are not allowed to eat their ice cream in the center.”–
5.36 pm
Postillion Bunnik wants to become a coronaproof hotel
The Postillion Hotel along the A12 in Bunnik wants to become a corona proof. Staff are busy with a measuring tape to put all tables and chairs at a distance of 1.5 meters. The hotel may soon be able to receive guests and organize conferences even if the corona measures are still in place.
RTV Utrecht took a look at the ‘coronaproof’ Postillion Hotel.–
5.05 pm
Fewer corona patterns in hospitals in Utrecht
The number of corona patients in ICU hospitals in Utrecht has decreased by 8 in the past 24 hours: from 112 to 104. See an overview below.Number of corona patterns per hospital (in brackets the difference from yesterday):
– UMC Utrecht: 85 patients (-4), of whom 39 in the ICU (-7)
– Diakonessenhuis: 40 patients (-4), of whom 15 in the ICU (no difference)
– Meander MC: 49 patients (-2), of whom 19 in the ICU (-2)
– St. Anthony: 71 patients (-3), of whom 31 in the ICU (+1)
The total number of corona patients in hospital, including those who did not end up in the ICU, has gone from 258 to 245.
Nationally, the number of corona patterns has increased slightly compared to Wednesday. A total of 1417 people are now in an ICU in the Netherlands. On Wednesday there were 1408.
4.24 pm
Baarn will be fined immediately
Children from Baarn who do not comply with the corona rules at the Cruyff Court (Professor Krabbelaan) will immediately be fined. The time for warning has passed, according to the municipality.
Many young people still come to the football field to play football. That is prohibited, the municipality emphasizes. Children are still allowed to get a breath of fresh air, but not within 1.5 meters of each other.
If children do not comply with this, a fine of up to 390 euros will immediately follow. If that does not help either, the Cruyff Court will be closed entirely.
Earlier, the municipality of Zeist also decided not to warn anymore, but to immediately switch to fines.
4.15 pm
Mayor Van Zanen: celebrate Easter at home
The Utrecht mayor Van Zanen wants people to celebrate Easter at home as much as possible. He posted a video on Instagram showing that he is receiving 6-year-old Milou and hiding Easter eggs from her in his house.
3:45 pm
Rutte tempers expectations
Prime Minister Rutte once again tempered the hopes of the hopeful Dutch in a press conference after the cabinet meeting. The chance is ‘zero’ that we will have the old life back in the Netherlands after April 28, he says.
Especially the 1.5 meter distance that people have to keep among themselves will take a while longer. Until April 28, almost all measures are in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus. According to the prime minister, “there will be some areas that can be enlarged.”
3:38 pm
Gaycaf Bodytalk fears one and a half meter society
Gaycaf Bodytalk sees the future with sad eyes. The pub on the Utrecht Oudegracht is very narrow and therefore does not lend itself at all to a so-called one and a half meter society.
The employees of Bodytalk posted an ironic message on Facebook. “We are ready for the one and a half meter economy. The new normal!” A photo shows that the pub with tape is divided into compartments, as has happened in some supermarkets. “The start of the queue to enter Bodytalk is Friday and Saturday at the Dom Tower from 22:30. Has it already been April 1st?”
3.18 pm
The FvD believes that the province underestimated the corona crisis
The group of Forum for Democracy in the province of Utrecht thinks that the provincial government underestimates the corona crisis. There should be a provincial emergency fund from which financially affected citizens and entrepreneurs can draw. The province would have to tap into its own financial reserves for that emergency fund.
In a response, the province says that an emergency fund is ‘not yet under discussion’. Moreover, it would add little to the previously announced national measures to compensate duped entrepreneurs. “The Cabinet’s support package is very extensive.”
Forum for Democracy is the third largest party in the Provincial Council of Utrecht with 6 out of 49 seats. Only GroenLinks and the VVD have more seats.
3:07 pm
Ab Osterhaus has bad news for FC Utrecht fans
The well-known virologist Ab Osterhaus does not think the Eredivisie can be played next summer. “I never say, never. But with today’s science that is going to be very difficult.”
“Before football players train together again, we actually have to know if they are infected. Companies are working with man on power to test possibilities. Everything is possible. But even if we can test ourselves en masse in a few weeks, and I ask that I really don’t think football players will be in the front of the line, I would rather think medical staff or people in nursing homes. “
2.30 pm
Easter tips in the corona time of Mayor Backhuijs
The Easter days are just around the corner and good weather has also been predicted. Mayor Backhuijs van Nieuwegein calls on its residents to observe all the rules.
2.20 pm
Legal Counter reduces call costs
The Legal Counter temporarily reduces the calling costs due to the corona crisis. If you call 0900-8020 for legal assistance, you pay 10 cents per minute instead of 25 cents. Due to the corona virus, all branches of the Legal Counter are closed to visitors, so that only calls or emails can be made.
14.06
Decrease in hospital admissions
RIVM has received 237 new reports about hospital admissions. Since the start of the outbreak, 7,972 people have been or have been admitted. RIVM figures show that the number of hospital admissions has been falling for a week.
The number of Dutch nationals who are confirmed to have died from the coronavirus has risen to 2396. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) received 148 new reports of deaths from the GGDs in the country in the past day. The total number of detected infections rose last day by 1213 to 21,762.
1.22 pm
Easter eggs for the RIVM
RIVM employees received a surprise: Easter eggs! They have been put in the limelight by De Bilt’s Wereldwinkel.
The Wereldwinkel would like to thank RIVM for the hard work they have been doing for weeks. That is why fairtrade Easter eggs are located in all departments. “We would also like to let the employees of RIVM know that we are thinking of them in this busy, hectic time.”
12.41 pm
Easter bunny visiting primary school children
The only real Easter bunny came today to all children of OBS De Bijenkorf in Houten. Teachers went through the streets dressed as Easter Bunnies and hid chocolate and eggs in the gardens of nearly 200 children. They also put an extra surprise in the mailboxes.
The primary school team wanted to use the action to support the children and wish them a Happy Easter.
11.47 am
Measures in court
The necessary corona measures are also taken in the court in Utrecht. Colored lines and surfaces have been created everywhere. According to court reporter Riks Ozinga, that is to enable more hearings soon.
The layout of the courtrooms will also soon be adjusted to make it easier to keep a safe distance during the court hearings. Parts of the building are screened off with ribbons. Now only urgent cases are handled by the court and the public is not allowed. However, the number of cases to be handled will be expanded cautiously in the near future.
11.33 am
Bells ring on Easter Sunday
All Catholic churches are called upon to ring the bells on Easter Sunday between 12:00 noon and 12:15 pm. Due to the coronavirus, people cannot visit the churches during Easter. That is why the Dutch Bishops’ Conference calls for this action.
“Usually the bells ring as a call to celebrate Sunday. This time, they are ringing to call people to connect at home with the worship of the Church that continues but cannot be celebrated publicly,” said the call of the Roman -Catholic denomination.
Other denominations are also cordially invited to participate in this initiative. “Prayer can be given for the Easter message but also for the situation in our country regarding the coronavirus and all who suffer from its consequences”.
11.25 am
Elderly Association starts heart action for home care employees
Elderly association ANBO wants to put the spotlight on home care workers. According to the union, a lot of attention is rightly paid to personnel in hospitals and nursing homes. But the home care employee hardly gets any attention. That is why they started a heart action and call on everyone to participate.
On Facebook, people can place a special frame on their profile photo that shows the shape of a heart. They also ask everyone to give the name of their favorite home care worker to the union.
Home care workers visit the elderly daily to help with anything and everything. This is often the only contact moment for the elderly today.
10.37 am
2500 bunches of tulips for supervisors and cleaners
Today all supervisors and cleaners from the Amerpoort care center in Baarn receive a bunch of tulips. Sherpa employees at the Eemeroord location also receive flowers.
The tulips were donated by various growers from the Amersfoort and Nijkerk regions. The flowers have been delivered to the Cultural Center of Amerpoort. Volunteers take the flowers from there to all locations.
9:40 am
Utrecht archive in search of an image about the corona crisis
The Utrecht archive is working on a (digital) heritage collection about the consequences of the corona virus. The outbreak has drastically changed life, and in order to properly describe the history of this period, the organization is looking for photos, videos, posters, letters or other information about life during the Coronavirus outbreak.
You can submit the information via the website of the archive. They are mainly looking for material that depicts their own living environment. Photos of your own street, information boards or solidarity actions.
9:27 am
Theaters and concert halls come with regulation
Many concerts and theater performances have been canceled due to the corona virus. Thousands of people now have tickets that cannot be used. The costs can be claimed back, but the cultural sector asks not to do so. Returning those costs can cause the theaters and concert halls to go bankrupt.
The sector will come up with alternatives instead. For example, if a concert has been canceled, you can get a voucher that you can hand in at a later time. Performances may also be moved, but that is not possible in all cases.
Jeroen Bartelse, director of TivoliVredenburg, explains this morning on Radio 1 that the sector hopes in this way to alleviate the cash problem in the short term. “But that does not solve the economic damage,” Bartelse said.
6:28 am
Chamber: quick protective equipment for staff outside the hospital
All healthcare workers working outside hospitals must have sufficient materials as soon as possible to protect against coronavirus infection. The House of Representatives unanimously adopted a PVV motion on Wednesday asking the cabinet to arrange this.
The House has been hampering the problems for weeks due to shortages of, among other things, mouth masks, including in hospitals. But people who work in nursing homes, community nursing and domestic help also often lack resources.
Healthcare workers outside hospitals are concerned about the risk of contamination, back and forth. Because they sometimes do not even have mouth masks, they cannot provide sufficient care to their patients who are infected or suspected to be infected with the coronavirus.
6.14 am
Municipalities with money problems
Municipalities are financially squeezed by the corona virus. They now spend a lot of money to implement the corona measures imposed by the government. They therefore ring the bell and demand compensation. The Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG), chaired by Utrecht mayor Jan van Zanen, spoke about it behind the scenes on Wednesday with Minister Raymond Knops of the Interior.
Villages and cities already spend a lot of money to combat the consequences of corona, but less money is also coming in. For example, because companies pay less tax and because parking revenues are now disappointing.
5.30 am
‘Arrange compensation for family caregivers already’
Compensation should already be arranged for families of health care providers, as it is “only a matter of time before the first health care professional in the Netherlands dies from the consequences of corona”. That is the opinion of NU91, a professional organization for nurses and carers. Healthcare providers are currently exposed to a lot of coronavirus, and according to the organization, this is not without risk.
You can read the live blog of yesterday here.
