RIVM Newsletter Issue 4, 15 December 2020 |
| The Netherlands goes into lockdown | As of today, a five-week lockdown is in place in the Netherlands. In a live television address, Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced the second lockdown to prevent SARS-CoV-2 from continuing to spread. Read more about the Dutch measures against COVID-19 on Government.nl. RIVM publishes a weekly update and explanation of the COVID-19 figures in the Netherlands. See current information about COVID-19. | COVID-19 vaccination in the Netherlands | RIVM is preparing for implementation of the coronavirus vaccinations. As soon as the COVID-19 vaccines are delivered, the first groups can be vaccinated. In the first round, care workers from nursing homes, employees working in disability care and home care, and residents of nursing homes and institutions for people with intellectual disabilities will be vaccinated. Eventually, the COVID-19 vaccination will be available to everyone. Read more | Public Health Foresight Study (PHFS) and COVID-19 | The effects of the corona crisis have a greater impact on vulnerable groups in society, such as lower-educated adults, young people, the elderly and people with underlying health problems. This not only concerns the direct, immediate consequences but also the indirect, future consequences. PHFS 2020 describes how the coronavirus pandemic will eventually change public health in the Netherlands. The full study will be available in English shortly. The results were published in this news item. | Different problems, different solutions in COVID-19 response in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom | In the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the local authorities are working hard to combat the coronavirus outbreak. RIVM provides support in the form of knowledge and advice, testing equipment, and whatever else is needed. Read more. | Study on behavioural rules and well-being: round eight | Autumn 2020 saw a strong surge in the number of people who tested positive for COVID-19. More stringent measures were introduced, followed by a significant, but relatively short-term downward trend. This decrease coincided with a significant change in behaviour, measured in mid-November. For example, Dutch people indicated that they avoid busy places more often than six weeks earlier (67%, compared to 58% previously). They also found it easier to do so, possibly as a result of the more stringent measures. Read more. | Nitrate concentration in water on farms increasing again since 2017 | Over the past decades, the water quality of groundwater and surface water in the Netherlands has improved. This is mainly due to farmers using less manure and using it more judiciously. The improvement of the water quality has been much slower in recent years than in the past. Many waters do not yet meet the desired quality level. Nitrate concentrations appear to be too high in the upper meter of the groundwater on more than half of the farms in sand and loess areas and in more than 30 (about 15%) of the approximately 200 groundwater protection areas. Since 2015, more nitrogen and phosphorus end up in the soil on farms. Therefore, from 2017 the concentration of nitrate in leachate and ditch water at these farms increased. The report will be available in English shortly. More information in Dutch. | PFAS restriction proposal | The Netherlands is working with Denmark, Germany, Norway and Sweden on a proposal for a European ban on PFAS. A ban in this context is also referred to as a restriction. The countries are proposing this restriction to limit the risks that these substances pose to people and the environment. The proposal focuses on the entire group of PFAS substances in order to avoid one PFAS being replaced by another. Read more | Population screening programmes: source code ICT system released | ScreenIT is the ICT system for the entire chain in the screening process for the Dutch population screening programmes. This chain consists of screening organisations, laboratories, general practitioners, medical specialists and pathologists. It enables all chain partners to exchange information quickly and participants to promptly receive the results of the screening. Read more | New data on antimicrobial resistance in Europe | New data on antimicrobial resistance in European countries is now available in the sixth annual report of the Central Asian and European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (CAESAR) network. This information is invaluable in providing insight into the scope of the problem and identifying key priorities for action. The CAESAR report was co-authored by RIVM ’s WHO Collaborating Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Epidemiology and Surveillance. Read more | Reviewing national plans on Antimicrobial Resistance in Europe - Joint Action JAMRAI | Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health threat. Since 2017, RIVM has joined the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) and the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) in taking part in the EU Joint Action on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (EU-JAMRAI). As part of EU-JAMRAI, European countries set up a country-to-country peer review system. Country visits function as an opportunity to exchange best practices and provide an outsider’s point of view. In total, 13 country-to-country visits took place. This infographic presents the most relevant topics to address for each country. About EU-JAMRAI. | RIVM’s contribution to strengthening health promotion - Joint Action CHRODIS PLUS | Within the Joint Action for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, CHRODIS PLUS, RIVM has developed a set of recommendations for intersectoral cooperation to strengthen health promotion and prevention in municipalities. RIVM also developed a practical toolkit that supports employers in creating a healthy workplace focused on sustainable employability of employees. Read more | Sign up for our newsletter and receive our news and updates straight to your mailbox. Please forward our newsletter to anyone who may be interested. Subscribe here | |