The infection figures for next week are crucial for any new corona measures. That’s what virologist Marion Koopmans and Security Council chairman Hubert Bruls said in the VPRO program Buitenhof. They fear that the effect of the measures that came into effect last Saturday will not be forthcoming, because people do not adhere to them sufficiently.
“I am disappointed with how we all do not sufficiently comply with the measures,” said Bruls. “This week will be very exciting. If compliance with the measures does not fundamentally change and the number of infections does not fall substantially, we will head for a lockdown that will last all winter.”
Bruls would very much regret that, he said. “I do believe in this strategy, of not closing everything immediately. But if we do not achieve our compliance, then we have no choice but to do it through forced measures.”
working from home
Koopmans, who is a member of the Outbreak Management Team (OMT), also sees no effect of the current measures. According to her, things that could indicate this are not yet visible. “Things like working from home more, staying at home more, not looking for crowds: you would now like to see that reflected in, for example, the mobility figures, but you do not see it in that yet. So I am concerned about whether the effect will be achieved.”
By the way, staying home and not looking for crowds are officially not part of the crownmaatregelen that outgoing Prime Minister Rutte and Minister De Jonge of Public Health announced last week. The OMT had proposed a travel advice (‘do not travel, unless strictly necessary’), but the cabinet has not adopted it. The work from home advice has been tightened up.
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