“People’s behavior and willingness to wear a face mask can change, but then you have to explain very well what it does and why it is important,” says Van den Putte, professor at the University of Amsterdam. “What is the rationale for changing policy?”
“Until now, that has not been done clearly. You now hear more about the hassle, but not about the why. You have to give people reasons to want to do it. The message that the cabinet is now sending out is: we do not think it is important enough to oblige it. “
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What should have happened then? “It would have been brighter if it had been made mandatory.”
Useful
Van den Putte partially understands how this came about. “We initially knew very little about the virus. More and more knowledge is emerging. The Norwegian Public Health Institute showed: if there are not many infections, then it is not that useful. But, with many infections, it is. There are now more infections, so now it is useful. “
Van den Putte emphasizes that it is still most effective to keep a distance of 1.5 meters. “Face masks have a small added value.”
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Face masks popular, but no hoarding necessary
Shortly after the new corona measures, supermarkets are already seeing an increasing demand for face masks, but are well prepared for this, says the branch organization Central Bureau Food Trade (CBL). Since Wednesday, urgent advice for wearing a mouth mask in public space has been in place for all of the Netherlands.
“Supermarkets have enough masks in stock. We are already seeing an increased demand for them: more is being sold, but there is enough,” said a spokesman for CBL. “Hoarding is really not necessary,” she concludes.
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