South African coronavirus variant found in the Netherlands The South African variant of the coronavirus (501Y.V2) has been identified in the Netherlands for the first time.
Update on the spread of the UK coronavirus variant (VOC 202012/01) in the Netherlands The number of people that have been found to have the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus variant designated VOC 202012/01 (the UK variant) has risen from 11 to nearly 50 individuals.
Decisive decrease not yet visible Decisive effects from the lockdown of 15 December have yet to be seen. Although there was a decrease in the number of people who were tested and the number of people who tested positive for COVID-19.
Staying 1.5 metres apart is growing more difficult Staying 1.5 metres apart seems to be more and more difficult for people to manage.
Mortality still significantly elevated between 30 April and 6 May, but much lower than in previous weeks The total mortality rate in the Netherlands was significantly elevated in the week of 30 April to 6 May 2020. However, excess mortality was much lower than in previous weeks.
The 1.5-metre society is difficult to maintain Personal hygiene measures, such as not shaking hands, or using paper tissues, are not considered a problem by most Dutch people.
COVID-19 in nursing homes is stabilising The number of new nursing homes with COVID-19 patients is stabilising.
Rapid diagnostic tests are not reliable The Serology Task Force of the National Coordination Centre for Testing Capacity – a partnership between RIVM, hospitals and laboratories – has collected research results on rapid diagnostic tests
Rapid and accurate contact tracing required in the coming period Now that the Cabinet is relaxing the measures to combat the novel coronavirus step by step, people will go outside more frequently. The chance of the virus spreading again will then increase.
Clear impact achieved by national measures to combat the COVID-19 epidemic To monitor the effect of the measures against the spread of the novel coronavirus, the time when reported COVID-19 patients became ill was examined.