WEBVTT 

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ROSA JOOSTEN: We are relaxing the 
quarantine rules to keep society open.

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So that things like essential business 
processes and education can continue.

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Quarantine is a very important part 
of infectious disease control.

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Quarantine helps us slow 
the spread of the virus.

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You will be advised to go into 
quarantine, if there is a high risk...

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that you have become infected 
with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

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This means that you are not ill yet, 
but you could still become ill.

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The quarantine rules change 
depending on the phase of the pandemic.

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That’s why we also imposed 
stricter rules in previous waves.

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At that time, it was because 
there were more infections...

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and more people admitted 
to hospital and ICU.

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And at some points, when the situation 
permits, the measures are relaxed again.

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For example, that was possible 
once more people were vaccinated.

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Stricter quarantine rules were 
implemented in December.

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Because we saw that the Omicron variant 
was spreading incredibly fast.

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At that time, we did not know
much about the variant yet.

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But we did see that it was more 
contagious than the Delta variant.

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We are relaxing measures now, 
also to keep our society up and running.

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So that essential business processes 
and education can continue.

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Also, many people have now 
had a booster vaccination.

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And some people have 
already had the Omicron variant.

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By now, we also know that the Omicron 
variant is less likely to cause serious illness.

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That is why we can make this decision.

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Relaxing the quarantine rules 
means that the virus will spread more.

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Especially considering the Omicron variant, 
which is more contagious.

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We do know that it is less likely 
to cause serious illness.

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And people have had a booster and 
many have already had COVID-19 by now.

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Even so, hospital admissions will rise.

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Quarantine will remain an important way 
to stop the spread of the virus.

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That means it is still important 
to comply with the quarantine rules.

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And you should definitely 
also follow the basic measures.