Leave the self-test and isolation rules in place after a corona infection. The flu almost seems riskier than the corona. That’s what some experts say this Tuesday morning at Algemeen Dagblad. However, RIVM and the Ministry of Health still see too many risks and are respecting them. How are we actually?
We asked these and other urgent questions to virologist and medical microbiologist Jean-Luc Murk of the Elisabeth-TweeSteden hospital in Tilburg. But first some numbers and facts below, 1000 days after the very first corona patient registered in the Netherlands, admitted to hospital in Murk.
The autumn corona wave is over and has not led to major problems in hospitals. There are now 640 corona patients in hospitals, 111 of them in Brabant. More than three-quarters of Dutch people have antibodies to the virus, according to blood bank Sanquin. Just over half of all people over the age of 60 have received the booster vaccination against the corona virus. According to Murk, after so much misery, these are hopeful numbers. “We have entered a transition phase.”
How are we doing from a technical point of view?
“After the summer holidays, we had a period with a lot of circulation of the coronavirus. It was exciting for the hospitals, but it went quite well. Infections and hospitalizations are falling. In that sense, we’re pretty good.
But on the other hand, I see that we have a bivalent vaccine, which few people have actually used. This is a missed opportunity. This means that the vulnerable are not optimally protected for the winter. When the crown spins a lot again, it’s been a long time since their immune system boosted is. I don’t know how it will end.”
To what extent will corona determine our lives this winter?
“At a population level, I think it’s not that bad. I would be very surprised if the government takes action. Perhaps it can become very annoying for vulnerable people who are not fully protected. You always take a greater risk. Especially if there’s a new variant trying to escape immunity.”
Now we have a few more rules: self-test and isolation. To what extent are they still needed?
“I think it is no longer necessary for the entire population. It goes a long way, because the difference between the coronavirus and other respiratory viruses in terms of disease burden is blurring. You should be testing and isolating for other viruses as well, otherwise you are inconsistent. I would implore him: be reasonable. When you know you’re sick, you don’t go to someone who’s vulnerable.
For vulnerable people, it helps to get tested. The reason is that another drug has come onto the market that provides good protection against hospitalization and death. You can always consult your doctor: ‘I have the crown, do you think I am vulnerable enough to prescribe this medicine?’”
The RIVM and the Ministry of Health continue to respect it…
“They’re in a slightly different position than mine, obviously. It may arrive soon. The World Health Organization still declared it an international public health emergency. The government must also take this into account.
Also, we are now in a transition phase, but also before the cold and virus season. And then it is difficult to remove the rules in such a gray area ».
A transition phase, which sounds like the end of the pandemic is in sight?
“I think so. Corona doesn’t go away. But the pandemic is turning into a normal situation of viruses returning periodically. It will have an impact, but not as disastrous as we had before. You can compare it with the annual flu waves.
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