Outgoing minister Hugo de Jonge does not want to anticipate this, but extra corona measures due to the emergence of the omikron variant seem a real possibility. “If necessary, we will take the appropriate measures,” he said on Friday after the cabinet meeting. The experts of the Outbreak Management Team met on Friday about the omikron variant, which is rapidly gaining ground in England and Denmark, among other places.
When asked if de Jonge is hopeful, he said: “No. We are very concerned.” De Jonge announced last week that he wanted to accelerate the booster campaign. At the end of January, all adults who want to have a 3rd shot. But that may not come soon enough, given the rapid spread of the omikron variant.
“If it is necessary to further slow down the virus, to be able to lower the wave that you can expect … if necessary, we will take the appropriate measures.” But De Jonge did not want to prejudge whether it is necessary, and what kind of measures it will be. “Whether it is necessary, we will hear from the OMT.”
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