European prize for mobile vaccination units The Netherlands’ mobile vaccination units (prikbussen) have been selected as a best-practice method for the European project ‘Overcoming Obstacles to Vaccination’.
Number of reported illnesses related to food consumption increases each year In 2022, there were 1,165 reported outbreaks of food-related infections. An outbreak means that two or more people become ill after consuming the same food. A total of 4,470 people became ill.
RIVM modelling for COVID-19 reviewed by international experts An international audit committee of scientific experts, commissioned by the RIVM Scientific Advisory Board, reviewed the institute’s COVID-19 data analytics and modelling work. These models and data formed a scientific basis for recommendations by the Outbreak Management Team (OMT) and others on COVID-19 control measures in the Netherlands.
COVID-19 less severe due to Omicron variants, vaccinations and previous infections The consequences of infections involving the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 are decreasing. This is because nearly everyone in the Netherlands has built up immunity to COVID-19 as a result of vaccination and/or previous infection, and because the current Omicron variants are less likely to cause serious illness.
Young people less likely to contact GP for mental health problems The percentage of young people who report having mental health problems has hardly decreased since the last lockdown (in early 2022).
Stabilisation in newly reported SARS-CoV-2 infections The number of newly reported infections with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 stabilised in the past week*. The number of COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital stabilised, but ICU admissions continued to increase.
Omicron variant found in two previous test samples RIVM has found the Omicron variant in test samples taken in the Netherlands earlier in November. These samples were taken in the GGD test lanes on 19 and 23 November 2021.
Coronavirus variant Omicron found in 13 positive tests so far On 26 November 2021, 624 passengers returning from South Africa were tested for the coronavirus; 61 of them tested positive for COVID-19. Initial results from genome sequencing showed the Omicron variant in 13 of the samples from the positive tests.
The National Immunisation Programme: the number of disease notifications decreased substantially in 2020 In 2020, fewer people fell ill from a disease against which vaccination is included in the National Immunisation Programme than in 2019. This is most likely due to coronavirus measures, such as social distancing, handwashing, and travel restrictions.
Upward trend remains steady in all respects In the past week from 16 to 23 November 2021, hospital admissions of new COVID-19 patients rose by 19% compared to the week before. ICU admissions of new COVID-19 patients rose by 26%.