Leave self-test and isolation rules in place after a corona infection. The flu seems almost riskier than corona. That is what some experts say this Tuesday morning in the Algemeen Dagblad. However, RIVM and the Ministry of Health still see too many risks and are sticking to them. How are we actually doing?
We put these and other pressing questions to virologist and medical microbiologist Jean-Luc Murk of the Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital in Tilburg. But first some numbers and facts in a row, 1000 days after the very first registered corona patient in the Netherlands, who was admitted to the hospital in Murk.
The corona autumn wave is over and did not lead to major problems in hospitals. There are now 640 patients with corona in hospitals, 111 of whom are in Brabant. More than three-quarters of the Dutch have antibodies against the virus, according to the Sanquin blood bank. Slightly more than half of all people over the age of 60 received the booster vaccination against the corona virus. According to Murk, after much misery, these are hopeful figures. “We have entered a transitional phase.”
How are we doing corona-technically?
“After the summer holidays, we had a period with a lot of corona circulation. That was exciting for the hospitals, but it turned out quite well. The numbers of infections and hospitalizations are falling. In that sense, we’re pretty good at it.
But on the other hand, I see that we have a bivalent vaccine, which few people have actually used. That’s a missed opportunity. This means that the vulnerable are not optimally protected for the winter. When corona goes around a lot again, it has been a long time since their immune system boosted is. I don’t know how that will turn out.”
To what extent will corona determine our lives this winter?
“At a population level, I think it’s not too bad. I would be very surprised if the government would take measures. Perhaps it can become very annoying for vulnerable people who are not fully protected. You always run a higher risk. Especially if there is a new variant that tries to escape immunity.”
Now we have a few more rules: self-testing and isolation. To what extent are they still necessary?
“I think that is no longer necessary for the entire population. It goes very far, because the difference between coronavirus and the other respiratory viruses in terms of disease burden is blurring. You should do that testing and isolation for other viruses as well, otherwise you’re inconsistent. I would plead for it: be sensible. When you know you’re sick, you don’t go to someone who is vulnerable.
For people who are vulnerable, it is useful to have yourself tested. The reason is that an additional drug has come onto the market that provides good protection against hospitalization and death. You can always consult your doctor: ‘I have corona, do you think I am vulnerable enough to prescribe this medicine?’”
The RIVM and the Ministry of Health are still sticking to it…
“They are in a slightly different position than I am, of course. That may be coming soon. The World Health Organisation has yet declared it an international public health emergency. The government must also take this into account.
Moreover, we are now in a transitional phase, but also before the sniffle and virus season. And then it is difficult to remove the rules in such a gray area.”
A transition phase, that sounds like the end of the pandemic is in sight?
“I think so. Corona is not going away. But the pandemic is transitioning into a normal situation of viruses returning periodically. It will have an impact, but not as disastrous as we’ve had before. You can compare it to annual flu waves.”
READ ALSO:
Joris has had lung covid for a year and a half: ‘It is slowly getting better’
1000 days after the first patient, thousands of people from Brabant still have lung covid