Two weeks ago, the Dutch cabinet decided to initiate a three-week lockdown to lower the COVID-19 numbers. However, the infection rates are running so high that the cabinet has previously asked for advice from The Outbreak Management Team (OMT). They will incorporate this advice into a new decision this Friday which they will proclaim at a press conference.
The Outbreak Management Team (OMT) recommends closing bars, restaurants, flow-through locations, and non-essential stores at 5 p.m. The OMT advice would, however, state that education should remain open. Sources tell the NOS. The advice to keep education open applies to primary and secondary schools but also to colleges and universities.
Because of the high infections and hospitalizations, the cabinet had asked for an early advice, whether they will adopt this OMT advice isn’t clear yet. Two weeks ago the closing time of the catering and essential stores was already brought forward to 20.00 hours and the closing time of other stores to 18.00 hours.
OMT: KEEP ALL SCHOOLS OPEN, LOOK TO OTHER SECTORS
The Outbreak Management Team (OMT) has advised the outgoing cabinet to keep all education open. Sources tell the NOS. Whether that will actually happen, the government has yet to decide. In the package of measures announced almost two weeks ago, the cabinet also decided partly differently than the OMT advised.
Although there are many infections at schools, the OMT believes that everything should be done to not close them down. The advice applies to primary and secondary schools as well as universities and colleges. In the OMT’s view, the government should first look at what can be done in other sectors to reduce the number of infection.
ALSO READ: NEW COVID-19 MEASURES IN THE NETHERLANDS: A THREE-WEEK PARTIAL LOCKDOWN