Keukenhof, Artis, Ajax-AZ, Groninger Museum, Madurodam, National Opera and Ballet, TivoliVredenburg and Paradiso: these are a small selection of the places where people will soon be able to go again. The condition is that you buy a ticket and have a rapid test done 40 hours in advance.
The OMT thinks it is more sensible to do the quick test up to 24 hours in advance. A second test, after the event, can also reduce the ‘potential negative effects’.
–
–
Another concern for the OMT is that the result of a quick test is not always correct, so that infected people may still go to an event. The combination of the many travel movements and the gathering of people therefore creates additional risks. If it were purely about research into the possibilities, a maximum of 10 well-selected and prepared events should be sufficient, according to the OMT.
If the group size is also limited during the events, it is better possible to carry out source and contact research after contamination, the experts write. They also point out that ‘additional risks’ arise because children under the age of 12 do not have to take a test according to the current rules.
–
–
Considerable pressure on healthcare
At the moment, the number of infections in the Netherlands is still increasing and the pressure on hospitals is increasing. The OMT expects that the peak in the number of corona infections is yet to come, but the events may provide the picture that makes the epidemiological situation more possible. “Correct communication is essential,” the health experts write in their latest advice.
–
–
According to outgoing minister Hugo de Jonge, it is possible to hold the events justified by the scale of the activities, the limited size, testing beforehand and enforcing the basic rules. He adds that tests are conducted ‘as much as possible’ within 24 hours before the start.
‘Testing for access’ started last week. “The experiences of the participants, organizers and other stakeholders are mostly positive”, the minister concludes.
In any case, the visitors of previous Fieldlab events were very happy that they were allowed to:
–
–
