‘No relaxation of corona measures for the time being’ | Inland

During the Catshuis meeting on Sunday, it was determined, according to those involved, that the development of the corona virus offers insufficient room for this. “The pressure on the system is too high,” one person concerned concludes after the consultation. The reproduction number is too high at 1.14, as is the number of infections of about 100,000, it sounds.

This means that terraces cannot be opened in the short term, and neither can higher education. While the ministers involved previously aimed for this. However, the decision is not yet final.

According to insiders, there will be a slightly more positive message on Tuesday, but it is about the perspective when most Dutch people have been vaccinated in eight to ten weeks. According to one present, the consultation went in good harmony. There was doubt about this, after D66 ministers still seemed to be pushing for relaxation on Friday, while another part of the cabinet was gloomy about this.

Terraces and education

At the last press conference before the elections, Prime Minister Rutte and Minister of Corona De Jonge already put some possible relaxation on the shelf from March 31: the terraces open under certain conditions, physical lessons in higher education once a week, more space for shops and two instead of one visitor per day at home.

But there was a disclaimer: the occupation on the ICs had to remain stable and the reproduction number, how many people an infected person ignites, around 1. The latter seems to be a problem in particular. “The reproduction number is 1.14, which makes me quite short of breath,” said Minister Grapperhaus (Justice) Friday afternoon.

In addition, the number of infections rose in the past week. Yesterday there were more than 7,500, the highest number since January.

Virologist Ab Osterhaus gave his vision on the measures on Sunday:

Curfew

On Sunday morning, virologist and member of the Outbreak Management Team (OMT) De Jong already announced that he sees little reason to relax the corona measures. Virologist and OMT member Koopmans fully agrees with this. In the program With a view to tomorrow she said that it could even take another month or two before the OMT will advise to relax the corona measures.

It presents the outgoing cabinet with a difficult choice. Shortly after the good result of their party during the elections, D66 ministers in particular said they had little patience. For example, D66 party leader Kaag said he wanted to get rid of the curfew quickly, especially in view of the approaching summer time. D66 minister Van Engelshoven (Education) said he was ‘positive’ about relaxation for higher education. Ministers Grapperhaus (Justice and Security) and Van Ark (Medical Care) are less optimistic about this.

After the deliberation at the Catshuis, there will also be other meetings in the coming days. On Tuesday evening at 7 pm there will be a press conference with Rutte and De Jonge.

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