News item | 10-03-2023 | 3:30 pm
The latest corona advice – the (self-) test and isolation advice – may be cancelled. The cabinet has decided this on the advice of the Outbreak Management Team (OMT) and the Social Impact Team (MIT). This is possible because the immune system in the Netherlands is now high and few people become seriously ill from the current virus variants. However, the cabinet calls on everyone to continue to use common sense in the event of flu or cold complaints. It is always wise to stay at home if you are ill, to consult with your employer if you have minor complaints whether you can work at home, to limit physical contact with vulnerable people, to cough or sneeze into your elbow, to wash your hands regularly and to provide sufficient fresh air. provide air.
The Netherlands has entered the endemic phase with regard to the corona virus. A new phase in which the virus is constantly circulating among the population, but in which almost everyone has built up resistance through vaccination or an infection. As a result, few people become seriously ill. Covid-19 no longer leads to major social and economic problems and therefore the latest advice can now also expire.
Minister Kuipers of Health, Welfare and Sport: “With the abolition of the latest corona advice, we are leaving a special period behind us, a period that we will not soon forget. You shouldn’t, because the corona virus is still there and will stay. We will simply have to live with it and fortunately that is getting better and better.”
Common sense
The cabinet advocates continuing to use common sense when dealing with flu and cold complaints, whether they are the result of the corona virus or not. For example, if you cough, sneeze, have a sore throat or a runny or runny nose, five pieces of advice apply:
- stay home when you are sick,
- In case of minor complaints, consult with your employer whether you can work from home,
- In case of complaints, avoid physical contact with people who can become seriously ill from a respiratory infection. If physical contact is necessary (such as for informal care), wear a mouth-nose mask,
- cough and sneeze into your elbow and wash your hands often and thoroughly, even if you have no complaints and
- ensure adequate ventilation of indoor areas.
Minister Kuipers: “COVID has shown us that by applying a few simple basic principles, such as washing hands, coughing into your elbow – you know them all – we can limit the spread of viruses. This applies not only to Corona, but also to other infectious diseases. So let’s use common sense when we have flu or cold complaints. That is not only good for the medically vulnerable, but for all of us.”
No new vaccination round in the spring
It has also been decided not to organize a new vaccination round this spring. This is due to the course of the pandemic, the protection built up and the less pathogenic omikron variant that is currently dominant. An extra repeat shot would currently only offer a small extra protection. For some people with a high medical risk, it may be necessary to get an extra repeat shot. It concerns individual patients. They can be referred by their medical specialist. The basic series and the repeat injection remain available to everyone from the age of 12 who have not yet passed it.
Close GGD test lanes
The GGD test lanes are quickly closed now that the OMT has indicated that large-scale testing no longer has any added value. In concrete terms, this means that the GGD test streets will close and testing for a proof of recovery at the GGD is still possible until 17 March. Closing the GGD test lanes means that people who need a DCC recovery certificate to travel can get it through the commercial test lane. This already applies to travelers who need a test certificate.
Keeping an eye on the virus remains important
Because we don’t know exactly how COVID-19 will develop, monitoring and surveillance remain important to keep a close eye on the coronavirus. Hospitals also play an important role in this. Through good surveillance, we can see, among other things, whether more pathogenic or contagious variants arise and we keep an eye on the degree of protection provided by the vaccination programme.