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You can watch the #persconferentie on the NOS starting at 19:00. https://nos.nl/livestream/2331225-kijk-mee-persconferentie-over-coronamaatregelen.html
You can watch the #persconferentie on the NOS starting at 19:00. https://nos.nl/livestream/2331225-kijk-mee-persconferentie-over-coronamaatregelen.html
We will be finding out what will happen with the corona measures after April 28th. There have been a lot of leaks and predictions today. https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/04/primary-schools-may-reopen-government-advisors-say-ahead-of-key-cabinet-meeting/
Tonight we've got Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Jaap van Dissel from the RIVM.
Rutte starts: Good evening, as announced the crisis management team has researched the question as to whether or not the measures can be lessened.
He says he will need more time than normal. [Glad we brough snacks. And drinks. Totally non-alcoholic drinks.]
Now we are getting a short summary of where we are now. The numbers in the hospitals and the ICs are hopeful. He says that normal healthcare needs to resume.
The situation in nursing homes is worrisome, he says.
People want to know when the economy will open back up. When can you visit opa and oma. When you can go to the hair dresser. [That's mostly Hugo de Jonge.]
"I understand that people are impatient." He says that they are concerned that if measures are lifted too soon, the numbers will go back up, which will put more pressure on the health care system and that there will be more victims.
They have three criteria, he says, for the decisions: Can the healthcare system handle it? Are vulnerable people protected? Can the economy handle it?
Now we are getting into the meat of this: The Outbreak Management Team has decided that primary schools and special education can open again.
The government agrees with this. Primary school children will go, half time, to school after May 11. They are working on the practical implications of this.
He says that young children are unlikely to be infected. The schools are local, so there should be no pressure on public transit, etc.
He notes that 1.5 meters apart is not possible for these groups.
Teachers will get the same (corona) testing as those in healthcare.
People in risk groups will not have to teach. Teachers and children with health complaints will have to stay home.
He notes that this has already been done in Scandinavia. [Ahem if you have Sweden on your bingo card, he did not say Sweden.]
Next up: Sport!
He thinks sports are very important. Individual sports are possible. Children in primary school can rejoin sports clubs after April 28th. This is only for training, not matches. And children cannot travel.
For older kids, they can as well, but they must maintain 1.5 meters distance. Also you have to shower at home. This will all be regulated by the Gemeentes.
Now onto events: There will be no large events until the first of September. This means no Pinkpop, etc.
Rutte says yes this basically sucks. But the health risk cannot be taken.
As for other stuff: Contact jobs cannot continue. This includes hair salons [OHHHHH GODDDDD], nail salons, massage therapists, etc
The government will get further advice as to how these places can reopen, with protective equipment, inthe next week.
Care homes: People still cannot visit nurisng homes. He says they know this is really hard for the elderly but the risk is too great.
The basic regulations: STAY HOME, Work from home, shopping alone, don't make it a day out, stay 1.5 meters away from people, sneeze in your elbow.
[Never thought I'd be at a press conference with a prime minister chastising people to sneeze in their elbow.]
He says that further lessening will take patience and disciple. We must keep it up, he says. The next steps are depending on holding fast to these measures.
The next round of decisions will be made on May 20th. [Mark your calendars, folks.]
He says the coronacrisis is the most difficult period most of us will ever experience. "We will only know the full extent in the end."
"I would have loved to make society more open. The numbers do give us some hope but we don't want the virus to resurface."
He says that this isn't just about today's measures but about how society keeps up with the measures. Maintain the 1.5 meter distance. [This is personally addressed to the guy in my neighborhood who keeps trying to talk to me when I'm walking the dog.]
"The freedom of one cannot cost the health of another."
A good end to his talk. "We do this together."
Now we've got Jaap van Dissel from the RIVM. [Who appears to have given himself both a hair cut and a beard trim...]
He is going to talk about the research involving children. There has been some research done with kids until age 18. There are very few children who have gotten the infection, he says.
This research has also been shown in other places including Chinda, South Korea, Spain and the US.
He notes that there are huisarts have checked about children with corona. Of all children with symptons, none tested positive.
The GGDs have collected information about clusters and there aren't clusters around schools or day cares.
Now he is talking about the spread in househols. It shows that there is some spread but it's less children than adults. It seems that children are infected by their parents.
Now he is talking about resistence.
He says that of the people tested, 3-4% of people have antibodies. but that's lower in children. Which means fewer children are getting it and are probably getting it from their parents, rather than the other way around.
A note that there are a lot stats and medical terms being tossed around [Jaap is not...a politican] and we will outline this more extensively on the website.
First question: How is it that people have kept to the rules and now they get three more weeks?
Rutte: It's a virus.
Rutte does not seem amused by this question. He says that the pressure is still high and that if things open back up, we will see a resurgence.
Last week you talked about a 1.5 meter society. Is that not possible?
Rutte says that we are looking together with the experts to see what can be opened. He says that we can only open when the disease lessens.
"We feel responsible for our country and we want to open up but that is simply not possible."
Oh boy now he is arguing with the [we think NOS] journalist.
How long more, the journalist asks? "That's not up to me," Rutte says. It is getting busier outside, he says, but if it's too busy it will spread.
He says that the people in healthcare are already streched thin and the pressure on healthcare needs to decrease.
[Do we think that's water in his glass or....]
Next question to van Dissel. "This is only easier with testing you said, is this not counter to your conclusions today."
The doctos need room to breathe, he says. These people are working 12 hours a day. That would be worse if we open up now.
Next question is to Rutte: When the schools needed to close, there was a lot of unrest with the teachers? Are you worried about that now?
Rutte says now we have more knowledge. We needed reseach and now we have answers.
Follow up: But you said then that the spread wasn't so large. Do you think you are using teachers as test bunnies? [Guinea pigs...]
No Rutte says, then it was based on what was going on in other places. Now we have research for here. This is a difference situation. Rutte defense his stance before, says it was right, but society disagreed.
Another question about people who work in care homes. Is there unrest with them? Rutte says yes, it would be better if people could visit but that's not possible yet.
Next question is to van Dissel: What was the discussion with the OMT? Opening full or partly? Van Dissel says that in most places people have chosen to start with small groups. This is also in Scandinavia and they are looking to that example.
Next question to Rutte about the schools: Rutte says he didn't want to close the school but that we live in a democracy. [I think he's getting coronacranky]
There is a question about the leerplicht. That is the rule that obliges children to go to school. He says they will not be sending truancy offers around, it is up to the parents.
And a question about teachers. What about teachers in a risk group or with a partner who is? Rutte says that can be discussed with their school and doctor.
A question to van Dissel about whether children with diabetes can go to school. He says there are no specific risk groups among children.
Another question to Rutte: Over masks. Should we wear them? Rutte says you should stay 1.5 meters away from each other. And he says they are still looking into the masks.
Another question to Rutte: There were more requirements before. Now there are fewer. Why? Rutte says it is because the spread has been reduced.
Another question: Are things going wrong with the app? Rutte says no, but that they are specifying more requirements for the GGD. [There were a lot of problems with the apps, it turned out.]
There is a question about health care homes. Rutte is being extra testy. [Maybe he needs a snack? Or more water glass vodka?]
He says that they are looking 2-3 weeks into the future and they are checking into things like the risk to people age 55-60.
Oh boy he has "jongens" the press.
He that if the spread increases, they will implment more rules.
Another question about the app. The OMT says it is very important. And he says that we need a bigger test capacity.
Is it not that with the app companies cannot open? Rutte says there is no app required for reopening things.
Now a question about horeca. [When can we get booze again in public?]
Rutte says that it helps if they can figure out how to reopen with an eye towards the 1.5 meters distance. How do we divide these spaces in cities? More people on the street is a risk.
A question about dentists. Rutte says that dentists have remain open but they have to decide for themselves what they will do.
In the OMT letter, it recommends that some people can recieve visitors. Is that true? Yes Rutte says. [We have a story about this, I will link later.]
Can you have people over? Yes, three Rutte says, if you keep the distance. This is until May 20.
There was a question about the police. Can they be tested? Not yet says Rutte, first it is health care workers.
A follow up question is about test capacity. Rutte says first it is healthcare workers, now they can test in care/nursing homes. People with complaints can be tested.
Is there advice for summer vacation? [Sorry Dutchies you probably can't go to France this summer.]
There is no advice, Rutte says. He's not going to book any holidays and the government is looking three weeks in advance.
That's all folks. We've said it before and we will keep saying. Donations keep the lights on and keep your mysterious live tweeter in gin so please donate if you can: https://www.dutchnews.nl/donate-to-dutchnews-nl/
We will have a story up shortly.
Here's our story: https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/04/dutch-reopen-primary-schools-and-daycare-but-ban-events-to-september/
[Off to drink all the gin.]
[Off to drink all the gin.]
