COVID-19 pandemic in the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Municipalities in the country of the Netherlands according to confirmed infections per 100,000 inhabitants

The COVID-19 pandemic occurs in the Kingdom of the Netherlands as part of the global COVID-19 pandemic . On February 28, 2020, the first SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Kingdom was reported as one of the last countries in Europe. Affected was initially mainly the south of the country the Netherlands , where especially the province of Noord-Brabant . The government has adopted containment measures, which have been specified in the emergency ordinances of the veiligheidsregio 's. The article also covers the Dutch Caribbean ( Aruba , Curaçao , Sint Maarten , Bonaire , Sint Eustatius and Saba ).

In the first few weeks after the outbreak in China in late 2019, the virus was not yet detected in the Netherlands. The Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM) published protocols in the event that infection should occur and closely monitored the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Prevention and Measures

On February 2, 2020, 15 Dutch people were evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan to the Netherlands. None of them were infected.

On February 27, 2020 it was announced that COVID-19 had been classified as an A disease and that suspected infection had to be reported.

The Reich government under Prime Minister Mark Rutte decided on March 12th to take measures to contain the pandemic. Meetings with more than 100 people across the country have been canceled. This also applies to museums, concert halls, sporting events, etc. The measures initially applied until the end of March, including for Noord-Brabant. Further measures followed on March 15, 2020. The earlier measures will be extended until April 6th. The measures were tightened again on March 23. The ban on events lasted until June 1st. On March 26th, the Veiligheidsregios specified the rules. On March 31st, all measures were extended to April 28th.

Health care and hygiene

On March 9, 2020, the government's website, Rijksoverheid.nl, urged people to stop shaking hands and wash their hands well. You should sneeze and cough in the crook of your arm. You should also use paper handkerchiefs. People should stay at home if they have colds or a fever (from 38 degrees). This also applies to those who have had contact with a corona virus patient or who have visited an area with many patients.

On March 12, the Reich government decided in its measures to contain the pandemic, among other things:

• All people should stay at home if they have symptoms (runny nose, cough, sore throat or fever) and avoid social contact. You should only call your family doctor if the symptoms get worse.
• You should work at home as much as possible. Healthcare and other vital service personnel should not stay at home until relevant complaints arise. You are not supposed to travel abroad.
• People at risk should avoid large groups and public transport. Such people should no longer be visited. On March 15, 2020, everyone in the Netherlands should, where possible, keep a distance of one and a half meters from one another.

The Dutch government has not yet introduced a general mask requirement (July 30), but allows regional bids. A face mask must only be worn on public transport (including ferries). Due to the increased number of infections, Amsterdam and Rotterdam will be the first Dutch cities to introduce a mask requirement for particularly busy places, streets and shops on August 5, 2020.

Childcare, schools and colleges

The Reich government decided on March 12th that schools and day-care centers should remain open. There are few infections there and this environment is not very international. Children and adolescents also do not have the highest risk. There would also be a social problem if parents from vital professions had to stay at home to look after their children. Schools and universities should offer online lessons.

However, on March 15, the government decided that day care centers, elementary schools, secondary schools and vocational schools will close from Monday March 16 to Monday April 6. The teachers organize an onderwijs op afstand (distance teaching ). Students who are about to take their final exams should receive preferential care. For parents who have vital jobs, there should be emergency care in the buildings. On March 20, it was said that parents should continue to pay their own contribution for childcare. This enables the providers to organize emergency care. The parents should be compensated later for benefits not received.

Students who do not have their own computer or tablet should be provided with it. The government has provided 2.5 million euros for this. The communities should also take care of students who are in an onveilige thuissituatie (do not have a safe home). For these students, home lessons are not an option. The communities should work together u. a. find solutions with care providers or libraries.

Gastronomy, cultural institutions, sports

The government resolution of March 12th said: Meetings with more than 100 people will be canceled across the country by March 31st. This also applies to museums, concert halls, sporting events, etc. On March 15, 2020 it was decided: All eet- en drinkgereheden (places to eat or drink) will close from March 15, 6 pm until April 6. (Addition on March 16: It should remain possible to deliver or pick up food. However, it should not be eaten in the pub.) Sports clubs, fitness clubs, saunas, sex clubs and coffee shops also close during this period. The earlier measures should also apply until April 6th.

Economy and business

The Dutch government announced on March 15th: There should be measures for entrepreneurs in need. Among other things, they should be able to pay their taxes later. There should also be help for the Dutch areas in the Caribbean . According to the government, these small communities are particularly dependent on tourism.

At the end of March, the Dutch flower trade, which is heavily dependent on exports, had largely collapsed. Flowers could still be sold and bought outdoors in the Netherlands, but demand from abroad was very low. At Royal Flora Holland, one of the world's largest trading centers for plants and flowers, growers were only able to offer around 25 percent of their goods for daily auction. The sale of flowers to foreign tourists at home (because they stay in their home country) and the export of cut flowers to other European countries (because of closed borders and the largely stagnation of social life in other European countries) collapsed. On March 23, 2020, the Dutch government ordered the world-famous Keukenhof Park to be closed for the entire season.

On April 26, 2020, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture confirmed COVID-19 infections on two mink farms in animals kept there. On June 23, 2020, the Dutch parliament decided to finally close the mink farms. This was planned for the end of 2023 anyway.

Travel restrictions

On March 18, 2020, the Reich government implemented the EU resolution that third-country nationals are only allowed to travel to the EU to a limited extent. The regulation does not apply to EU citizens (as well as citizens of Great Britain , Switzerland and some other countries) or their family members. Employees in the health service and the border regime , diplomats, soldiers, employees of aid organizations, transit travelers, people in need of protection and people who are allowed to travel to the Netherlands for humanitarian reasons are generally excluded . The rule is valid for 30 days.

From March 30, tourist overnight stays were banned in the coastal province of Zeeland .

statistics

European Netherlands (excluding the Caribbean Netherlands)

Evolution of the epidemic

Confirmed infections (cumulative) in the Netherlands (excluding the Caribbean Netherlands)
(April 16 to August 16, 2020) according to WHO data

Confirmed infections (cumulative) in the Netherlands (excluding the Caribbean Netherlands) over the course of the week
according to WHO data

New infections in the Netherlands (excluding the Caribbean Netherlands)
(April 16 to August 16, 2020) according to WHO data

New infections (per calendar week) in the Netherlands (excluding the Caribbean Netherlands)
according to WHO data

Confirmed deaths (cumulative) in the Netherlands (excluding the Caribbean Netherlands)
(April 16 to August 16, 2020) according to WHO data

Confirmed deaths (cumulative) in the Netherlands (excluding the Caribbean Netherlands) over the course of the week
according to WHO data

Confirmed deaths (daily) in the Netherlands (excluding the Caribbean Netherlands)
(April 16 to August 16, 2020) according to WHO data

Confirmed deaths (per calendar week) in the Netherlands (excluding the Caribbean Netherlands)
according to WHO data

Countries and particular communities in the Caribbean

The figures for the autonomous countries Aruba , Curaçao and Sint Maarten as well as for the special communities Bonaire , Saba and St. Eustatius ( Caribbean Netherlands ) within the Kingdom of the Netherlands are not yet included in the above figures for the country Netherlands, but are in listed separately in the WHO reports.

Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and Caribbean Netherlands
(as of: WHO report # 210, August 17, 2020)

Outdoor area	Infections	Deaths
Aruba	894	4th
Sint Maarten	263	17th
Curacao	32	1
Caribbean Netherlands	13	0
total	1202	22nd

Remarks

1. ↑ ^{a b c d} Since August 17, 2020, the WHO reports have only been published weekly, but contain additional information (around cases per million inhabitants). The last daily WHO report ( No. 209 , pdf) was published on August 16, 2020.
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Cases reported to WHO by national authorities are listed here. The WHO reports reflect the status of the previous day. The time from which the cases of the last 24 hours are reported is noted at the top of the report and is usually 10 a.m. CET . On March 18, this was briefly changed to 0:00 CET, but it was withdrawn on March 23. See WHO reports No. 58 and No. 63 , first page on each. Since this is a very dynamic situation and the assessment period varies, there may be discrepancies or delays between the cases of the WHO and the data of national authorities as well as the information provided by other bodies such as Johns Hopkins University (CSSE).
3. ↑ In WHO report No. 165 of July 3, 2020, two corrections have been incorporated: four deaths from July 1 and two deaths from July 2 have been withdrawn by the Dutch authorities. A retrospective correction of the data was not made here. Correctly, they should therefore in WHO report No. 163 (pdf) of July 1, 6109 (+2), in WHO report No. 164 (pdf) of July 2, 6109 (± 0) and in WHO report No. 165 (pdf) of July 3, also read 6109 (± 0).
4. ↑ ^{a b c d} In the WHO report no.183 (pdf) of July 21, 2020, the number of cases for the previous July was corrected. The number of deaths rose by seven without there being any death in the period shown (July 20, 10:00 am to July 21, 10:00 am). This is why the WHO report says ± 0, but here +7.

criticism

After the measures were extended to the national level on March 12th, the government was strongly criticized by the opposition and many citizens because, among other things, in contrast to neighboring countries, schools should remain open. It was also heard that the Dutch government was too late and too reluctant to take action compared to other countries.

On March 16, 2020 Prime Minister Rutte said in a televised address among other things:

"De reality is, that the coronavirus onder on is en voorlopig ook onder ons zal blijven. […] How the virus has it, is daarna meestal immune. Net as vroeger met de mazelen. Hoe groter de groep die immuun is, hoe smaller de kans voor het virus om over te jump op kwetsbare ouderen en mensen met een zwakke gezondheid. Met groepsimmuniteit bouw je als het ware een schermende muur om hen heen. This is the principle. Maar we moeten ons weliseren dat het maanden of zelfs long kan duren om groepsimmuniteit op te bouwen en in die tijd moeten we mensen die een groter risico lopen zoveel mogelijk afschermen. Everything overziend, zijn he 3 mogelijke scenario's.

The 1e scenario is: the virus maximum control. I am sorry to say that the het minste promises to be dead, or the groups het minste risico lopen. This is the scenario of our one corner. Maximaal controleren betekent dat we proberen met maat rules de piek in the aantal besmettingen af ​​te vlakken en uit te smeren over a longer period. Met deze aanpak waarin de meeste mensen alleen lichte klachten zullen krijgen, bouwen we immuniteit op en zorgen we dat de zorg het aankan. [...]

Het 2e scenario is dat we het virus onbeheerst zijn gang laten gaan. Daarmee zou ons zorgsysteem in de piek van de besmetting volkomen overvraagd […].

The 3e scenario is that we'd test the virus against the houden. Dat betekent dat het land helemaal op slot gaat. Zo'n rigoureuze aanpak kan op het oog aantrekkelijk lijken, maar desundigen wijzen erop dat het bepaald geen kwestie van dagen of weken zou zijn. In the scenario we are on the land feitelijk een jaar of zelfs long moeten platleggen, met all follow van dien. En as het practically al zou can - om mensen zo lang alleen met toestemming hun huis uit te laten komen - then nog kan het virus meteen weer de kop opsteken as de maat rules have been ingetrokken. "

“It is a fact that the corona virus is among us and will remain with us for a long time to come. [...] Anyone who has had the virus is usually immune afterwards. Like earlier with measles. The larger the group that is immune, the smaller the chance for the virus to spread to the vulnerable elderly and people with poor health. With group immunity, you build a protective wall around them, so to speak. That's the principle. But we also have to realize that it can take months or even longer to build up group immunity, and during this time we have to shield people who are at increased risk as much as possible. There are three possible scenarios in total.

The first scenario is: maximum control of the virus. This leads to a controlled spread, among groups that are least at risk. That is our scenario of choice. Maximum control means that we try to take measures to keep the apex in the number of infections flatter and to stretch it over a longer period. With this approach, which will leave most people with little discomfort, we build immunity and make the healthcare system cope with it.

The second scenario means that we let the virus run its course uncontrollably. As a result, our health system would be completely overstrained at the peak of the contagion [...].

The third scenario is that we are endlessly trying to fight off the virus. This means that the country will be closed in its entirety. Such a rigorous approach may seem attractive, but experts suggest that it certainly wouldn't be a matter of days or weeks. In this scenario we would actually have to paralyze our country for a year or even more, with all the corresponding consequences. [...] And even if it were practically possible [...] then the virus can reappear immediately if the measures are withdrawn. "

In the Netherlands, but also in international media, it was reported that the government was pursuing a concept of herd or group immunity . The concept of “controlled” infection of large populations has been criticized as “risky” by some epidemiologists and health experts. This concept implicitly accepts that people would die if the virus spreads rapidly.

On March 19, there was a debate in the Second Chamber (the more important Chamber of Parliament) on government policy. The right-wing populist parties PVV and FvD demanded an extensive curfew and a reduction in public activities ( mass quarantine) from the government in order to further enforce spatial distancing . The other parties, however, welcomed the government's line. A complete lockdown is wrong, according to Prime Minister Mark Rutte . The herd immunity is not the goal, but "a side effect" of the government strategy. It is certainly not the government's goal that as many people as possible be infected.

Rob de Wijk, professor of international relations and security, criticized the right-wing populists in the Trouw newspaper . While most politicians radiated unity and tried to avoid panic, Geert Wilders and Thierry Baudet did the opposite. Both would use the term “herd immunity” as if the government wanted the entire population to become ill in a controlled manner. However, this claim was contradicted by the head of the RIVM . Wilders and Baudet are not interested in facts, but in their own story.

Reactions related to conspiracy theories

In the Netherlands in April 2020 were 5G - transmission towers by arson damaged. Various conspiracy theories had previously been spread that linked 5G transmission masts with the coronavirus.

→ Main article: Misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic # 5G radiation

See also

• List of epidemics and pandemics
• List of deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic

Web links

Commons : COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Coronavirus COVID-19 - RIVM , information from the RIVM on the disease

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Miljoenensteden China in isolatie om coronavirus. Retrieved March 14, 2020 (Dutch). 
2. ↑ Vijftien Nederlanders geëvacueerd uit Wuhan, eerste dode buiten China. Retrieved March 14, 2020 (Dutch). 
3. ↑ ^{a b} Registration for arts the patient thinks about the coronavirus. Retrieved March 14, 2020 (Dutch). 
4. ↑ Rijksoverheid.nl: Nieuwe maatregelen tegen verspreiding coronavirus in Nederland , March 12, 2020, accessed on March 21, 2020.
5. ↑ Rijksoverheid.nl: Aanvullende maatregelen onderwijs, horeca, sport , March 15, 2020, accessed on March 21, 2020.
6. ↑ z. B. Veiligheidsregio Noord-Oost-Gelderland: VNOG komt met nieuwe noodverordening , March 26, 2020, accessed on March 29, 2020.
7. ↑ Rijksoverheid.nl: Coronamaatregelen verlengd tot en met dinsdag April 28 , March 31, 2020, accessed on April 3, 2020.
8. ↑ Rijksoverheid.nl: Hygiënemaatregelen van belang om verspreiding coronavirus tegen te gaan , March 9, 2020, accessed on March 21, 2020.
9. ↑ Rijksoverheid.nl: Nieuwe maatregelen tegen verspreiding coronavirus in Nederland , March 12, 2020, accessed on March 21, 2020.
10. ↑ Rijksoverheid.nl: Aanvullende maatregelen onderwijs, horeca, sport , March 15, 2020, accessed on March 21, 2020.
11. ↑ faz.net (July 30, 2020)
12. ↑ Rijksoverheid.nl: Nieuwe maatregelen tegen verspreiding coronavirus in Nederland , March 12, 2020, accessed on March 21, 2020.
13. ↑ Rijksoverheid.nl: Aanvullende maatregelen onderwijs, horeca, sport , March 15, 2020, accessed on March 21, 2020.
14. ↑ Rijksoverheid.nl: Alle ouders krijgen hun own bijdrage kinderopvang terug , March 20, 2020, accessed on March 21, 2020.
15. ↑ Extra ondersteuning voor kwetsbare leerlingen , March 20, 2020, accessed on March 21, 2020.
16. ↑ Rijksoverheid.nl: Nieuwe maatregelen tegen verspreiding coronavirus in Nederland , March 12, 2020, accessed on March 21, 2020.
17. ↑ Rijksoverheid.nl: Aanvullende maatregelen onderwijs, horeca, sport , March 15, 2020, accessed on March 21, 2020.
18. ↑ Rijksoverheid.nl: Aanvullende maatregelen onderwijs, horeca, sport , March 15, 2020, accessed on March 21, 2020.
19. ↑ Rijksoverheid.nl: Coronavirus: noodpakket voor ondernemers en werknemers in Caribisch Nederland , March 20, 2020, accessed on March 21, 2020.
20. ↑ Dutch flower trade collapsed - billions in damage . wallstreet-online.de, March 31, 2020, accessed on April 1, 2020
21. ↑ Editorial network Germany : When nobody needs flowers in the Corona crisis . March 31, 2020, accessed April 1, 2020
22. ↑ Keukenhof: Keukenhof will not open this year . Retrieved April 2, 2020
23. ↑ COVID-19 detected on Dutch mink farms , from April 27, 2020 in Ots.at
24. ↑ Dutch parliament wants to close mink farms after coronavirus outbreak , from June 25, 2020 in Ots.at
25. ↑ FAZ.net July 6, 2020 / Thomas Gutschker: Mink farms in the Netherlands have to close
26. ↑ Nederland sluit de border voor mensen van buiten Europa , March 18, 2020, accessed on March 21, 2020.
27. ↑ Corona: Netherlands coastal region Zeeland stops tourism. In: nrz.de. March 30, 2020, accessed March 30, 2020 . 
28. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i} Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation reports. WHO, accessed on May 2, 2020 . 
29. ↑ Edwin van der Aa: Kritiek op kabinet tijdens virusdebat: 'Openhouden scholen niet uit te leggen'. March 12, 2020, accessed March 14, 2020 (Dutch). 
30. ↑ Edwin van der Aa: Corona-Debat: kritiek op kabinet vanwege open houden scholen. March 12, 2020, accessed March 14, 2020 (Dutch). 
31. ↑ Door Marianne coat: kritiek zwelt aan op corona aanpak RIVM en overheid. March 12, 2020, accessed March 14, 2020 (Dutch). 
32. ↑ Jarl van der Ploeg: Italiaanse arts: 'As dit alles is wat Nederland doet, jullie over a week 4,000 besmettingen'. March 12, 2020, accessed March 14, 2020 (Dutch). 
33. ↑ Government website: [1] , March 16, 2020, accessed April 10, 2020.
34. ^ Zack Newmark: "I'M COUNTING ON YOU": DUTCH PM ASKS COUNTRY TO UNITE IN FIGHT AGAINST CORONAVIRUS. nltimes.nl, March 16, 2020, accessed on March 22, 2020 . 
35. ↑ Naomi O'Leary: Coronavirus: Dutch adopt controversial 'herd immunity' strategy. The Irish Times, March 16, 2020, accessed March 22, 2020 . 
36. ↑ Doug Dingwall: Doubts over herd mentality on COVID-19. The Caberra Times, March 18, 2020, accessed March 22, 2020 . 
37. ↑ Bevan Shields: Dutch embrace 'herd immunity' as dire death warning prompts UK to change course. Te Sydney Morning Herald, March 17, 2020, accessed March 22, 2020 . 
38. ↑ Anna Holligan: Coronavirus: Why Dutch lockdown may be a high-risk strategy. BBC News, April 5, 2020, accessed April 5, 2020 . 
39. ↑ RTLnieuws.de: Kabinet voelt nu niets voor lockdown, grote meerderheid Kamer steunt aanpak corona , March 19, 2020, accessed on March 21, 2020.
40. ↑ MPs back ministers on coronavirus; herd immunity is not the aim, says Rutte. DutchNews.nl, March 22, 2020, accessed on March 22, 2020 . 
41. ↑ Trouw: Wilders en Baudet dies bewust de aanpak van de coronacrisis , March 20, 2020, accessed on March 21, 2020.
42. ↑ ^{a b} A. BC News: Conspiracy theorists burn 5G towers claiming link to virus. Retrieved May 7, 2020 .