Decrease in visits to GP only during first wave of COVID-19 crisis During the first wave of infections in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 crisis (March–June 2020), the total number of visits to the GP was 11% lower than during the same period in 2019.
More than 1 in 5 young people had suicidal thoughts during last lockdown More than 1 in 5 young people (22%) between the ages of 12 and 25 years seriously thought about ending their lives between December 2021 and February 2022. A lockdown was in effect in the Netherlands at that time.
People who work at night are more likely to get infected with coronavirus People who occasionally or regularly work at night are 37% more likely to test positive for coronavirus than people who only work during the daytime. This is one of the conclusions of a study by the RIVM (Netherlands).
Reported COVID-19 infections are still rising, but less rapidly The number of reported COVID-19 infections continued increasing last week. However, the number of newly reported infections once again rose less quickly than in the week before that.
Coronavirus measures: public support remains high, despite concerns With the rapid increase in infections, people estimate their own risk of becoming infected as higher than it was 6 weeks ago (previously 10%, now 18%).
Novel coronavirus continues to spread unabated The number of reported cases of COVID-19 continues to rise in all regions and in all age groups. The Municipal Public Health Service (GGD) reported that 43,903 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week.
Initial results of rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 very promising Two antigen tests for rapid diagnosis of COVID-19, which detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus proteins within 15 minutes after testing, show very promising initial results.
RIVM measures much higher levels of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarettes Tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide (TNCO) levels measured in accordance with the Canadian Intense (CI) method are at least twice as high as the levels measured in accordance with the prescribed ISO
Addictive nicotine and harmful substances also present in heated tobacco Heated tobacco products are newly available on the market. An example of such a product is the heatstick which is heated with an iQOS, a device that looks like an e-cigarette.
RIVM withdraws from tobacco committees The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment will leave the NEN/CEN/ISO committees for tobacco and e-cigarettes with immediate effect.