Further relaxations will be announced in a few hours. Virologist and professor Ab Osterhaus understands that delaying relaxation for longer is becoming increasingly difficult, but would think it would be more sensible.
Osterhaus finds it difficult to estimate what will happen if society opens up further. But what he does know is that we’re not there yet. “That’s because of the large number of unvaccinated people.” According to the professor, it is therefore wise not to abandon all measures. Especially not with the flu season approaching.
cold virus
But how long will the pandemic last? Will COVID-19 go away at all? “It is not unlikely that the virus will come back every year, but we don’t know for sure yet. There is one virus related to corona and that has been recurring since its introduction in the 19th century,” says Osterhaus.
“That virus has now become a ‘normal’ cold virus. You then get group immunity, the virus adapts to humans. The question is how long it will take before this specific coronavirus will manifest itself in this way.” But that won’t happen overnight, Osterhaus suspects.
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No scientific substantiation
It is difficult to agree or disagree with the relaxations, says the virologist and professor. “There is little scientific basis for individual measures. Whether you leave the Zandvoort circuit open and not the night cafes is therefore a political decision.”
But despite the lack of scientific basis for the individual measures, Osterhaus is convinced that we should be careful. He refers to the relaxation in June, which resulted in a significant increase in infections.
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‘Prefer not to relax’
And if you ask the virologist himself? “If I look at my profession as a virologist, then I know, then I don’t say relax. But I understand that as a politician you face a very difficult task.”
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