PROVINCE OF UTRECHT – From April 11, after a positive self-test for corona, the Dutch no longer have to go to the GGD to have this confirmed. That is one of the points in the government’s long-term strategy for corona. Prevention is becoming a matter for citizens, government and sectors, but much concrete interpretation is still lacking in the strategy that was sent to the House of Representatives today.
Self-testing is becoming the norm. “The cabinet calls on society to take responsibility for this and is looking at sectors to encourage the use of self-tests,” said the Ministry of Health.
Advice GGD
As far as the cabinet is concerned, people must continue to adhere to the basic advice. There will also be a “self-care advice” in which, among other things, it will be stated what to do after a positive corona test, or if you test negative but still have complaints.
Another aspect that still needs to be worked out is ensuring sufficient staff in the care sector. It must be possible to scale up when necessary, but it remains unclear how this should be arranged. Providing oxygen to patients at home more often should also ease the pressure on hospitals.
The cabinet also wants to monitor the spread of the virus, for example by monitoring the sewage water. New vaccination rounds are also being taken into account and (new) medicines for people infected with corona are being taken into account.
Plans for four scenarios
The cabinet is taking four scenarios into account. From a mild one in which corona resembles a cold to a ‘worst case scenario’ with a lot of illness and death, and an overload of care. It has asked sectors to make plans for all four scenarios. In this way, the damage of any measures in the future should be limited and the closure of sectors should be prevented. More clarity about these plans should become available in June, when the cabinet wants to send a new letter to the House of Representatives about the long-term strategy.
It will be up to RIVM to decide whether and when new advice from the OMT is needed. It is also being considered to set up a Social Impact Team, which, in addition to the Outbreak Management Team, can provide the cabinet with advice. This should help to properly balance the “epidemiological and societal impact of measures”.