We are learning more and more about the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and the disease COVID-19, caused by the virus. On this page, you will find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) and what we know about the coronavirus so far.

14 April 2020 | 14:00 PM Hospital admissions for 210 patients were reported today (current or previous). 122 deaths were reported. Not all of the hospital admissions or deaths occurred within the last 24 hours. Some patients are reported later. For this reason, the figures are often supplemented with data from previous days. 27,419 confirmed COVID-19 patients have been reported to RIVM so far. The figures for the last few days are still in line with the impression that COVID-19 spreading slower than if no measures had been taken. Since not all COVID-19 patients are tested, the actual numbers in the Netherlands are higher than the numbers stated in the report. More tests have been carried out since April 6. The expansion of testing is intended for patients at high risk of severe illness from a coronavirus infection, and for healthcare workers in hospitals and in other contexts. That includes general practitioners, nursing home employees, care providers working with disabled people, or home care employees who have symptoms. (link) Policy on testing for coronavirus in the Netherlands 28% of the confirmed COVID-19 patients reported to RIVM are known to be healthcare workers. The relatively high percentage of healthcare workers among patients with COVID-19 is explained by the fact that the testing policy is partly focused on this professional group.   The age distribution and the male/female ratio amongst care workers is different from that of other COVID-19 patients. Of all reported healthcare workers with COVID-19, half are 44 years and younger, and 81% are women. Looking at the other patients, half are 72 years and up, and 48% are women. The following charts show the number of confirmed COVID-19 patients per age group for both healthcare workers and other patients. The blue line shows the number of men and the purple line shows the number of women.   

Population screening in the Netherlands is not a standalone process, it is part of a care chain. The aim is to ensure that all parts of the healthcare chain are aligned. In particular, the transition from screening to further diagnostics (medical examination after abnormal finding) and treatment is an important step with joint responsibility for screening parties as well as care institutions. This not only requires optimum cooperation, but also timely identification and scheduling in the subsequent care process.

Communication tools on prevention and questions on COVID-19 are available on this page. Download posters on vaccination against COVID-19,  preventing  COVID-19, quarantine  and the health screening form. 

Rats can carry pathogens that potentially cause disease in humans. These pathogens can be transmitted to humans via direct contact, or when people come into contact with water, soil or food that is contaminated with rat feces or rat urine. An example of a disease that can be transmitted from rats to humans is called Weil’s disease. RIVM studies the pathogens that rats in urban areas carry. This is done on different locations in Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Rotterdam. For this we use rat traps to capture the rats. The rat traps do not contain poison, but a snap trap. The rat traps are present at a certain location for a period of 4 weeks, after which the traps will be moved to another location. We also assess which factors determine the abundance of rats in a certain location. With the resulting knowledge, better advise can be given about (preventive)measures against rat nuisance. Additionally, we placed wildlife camera’s on different locations in cities. With these camera’s we study the wildlife community composition in Dutch cities. We strive to place the wildlife cameras in such a way that people will not be photographed. If this would accidentally happen, pictures of people will be deleted. If you have questions or comments regarding this study, please send them to rattenonderzoek@rivm.nl. We strive to answer your e-mail within 3 working days.

ConsExpo nano is a “work-in-progress” online tool that is designed to reflect the current state of knowledge on exposure to nanomaterials via inhalation and nanomaterial spray scenarios for the consumer. The model is based on the ConsExpo model for the estimation of exposure to regular substances in consumer spray products. The load of nanomaterial in the alveoli is chosen as endpoint of exposure. This endpoint of exposure relates to potential local effects in the lung such as the induction of inflammation in the alveoli. New knowledge or insights may lead to model changes and updates of the tool. Adjustments to the model to a new version will be clearly communicated via the website. The actual version is mentioned in the footer of the webpage. It is recommended that experts (nanotoxicology, exposure assessment and risk assessment) are responsible for the evaluation and selection of data and the application of ConsExpo nano. Adequate interpretation of the results of the model is required as a basis for risk assessment. RIVM is not responsible for the consequences of the operational use of ConsExpo nano.

The ConsExpo nano tool can be used to estimate inhalation exposure to nanomaterials in consumer spray products. To run the model, user input on different aspects is needed.  These aspects include e.g. the exposure scenario, the nano material under consideration, details of the simulation and the hazard study (optional). Both deterministic and probabilistic evaluations may be performed. Exposure is presented in different measures, as point values, time plots, plots of the probability in case of probabilistic evaluation.

ConsExpo nano is a web based tool that can be used to estimate inhalation exposure to nanomaterials in consumer sprays. The tool adapts the ConsExpo spray tool for regular substances and combines this model with the ICRP deposition and clearance model to estimate inhaled and deposited doses. This page provides background on the models implemented in the ConsExpo nano tool. The use of nanomaterials in spray products may lead to inhalation exposure of consumers to the nanomaterial. Of special concern is the potential deposition of nanomaterial in the pulmonary (alveolar) region. Poorly soluble material is only slowly cleared from this region. Alveolar deposition may lead to protracted local exposure and accumulation of the nanomaterial in the case of frequent exposure. The duration and magnitude of alveolar load of a nanomaterial has been identified as one of the primary determinants of local adverse effects such as inflammation in the lung (Braakhuis et al., (2014)). ConsExpo nano is a tool that can be used to estimate inhalation exposure  as the inhaled dose and the alveolar load of nanomaterials for consumers using spray products.  The tool combines models for exposure, deposition and clearance to estimate alveolar load. The exposure is expressed in different dose metrics  for quantitative risk assessment. For comparison of the exposure evaluation in ConsExpo nano with a hazard study in rat, the latter can also be simulated in ConsExpo nano, to allow for a detailed comparison of exposure levels with hazard data.

The modelling exposure to nano materials in spray products documentation provides background information on the models that are implemented in the ConsExpo nano tool. The user manual  provides a description of the input needed by the tool and the output options that the tool provides.