CORONA APPROACHThe cabinet freezes the controversial plan to exclude unvaccinated people (2G). The extension of the corona pass to work and education is also coming to an end. There is a lack of sufficient political support, at the same time it is too early to reopen sectors. An extension threatens to extend the evening lockdown.
Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge (CDA) reports the postponement in a letter to the House of Representatives. “With the high infection pressure now and the continuing pressure on healthcare, we do not expect that there will be room in the short term to further open parts of society with 2G.”
The uncertainties surrounding the new omikron variant also throw a spanner in the works, the minister noted when various political groups contributed to the bills that would be discussed this week. “As a result, support is insufficiently certain.”
The cabinet is now advocating that the bills be discussed in the new year. Due to the continuing wave of infections and hospital admissions and the postponement of the 2G rules, a longer evening lockdown is looming, an insider from The Hague confirms. Although De Jonge does not want to formally anticipate this.
This week, the House of Representatives would debate extending the corona pass (3G) to the workplace and education. The plan to only allow vaccinated or cured people in the catering industry, at concerts and festivals (2G) would also be treated. There the cabinet risked a major political defeat, only VVD and D66 showed their support.
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A massive block in the House of Representatives is strongly opposed to 2G. Coalition party ChristenUnie and opposition party GroenLinks, among others, indicated that they see more benefit in 1G – testing everyone. But that costs between 200 million and 1.4 billion euros per week, depending on the type of test and the sectors where 1G will apply.
ChristenUnie MP Mirjam Bikker is satisfied with the postponement: “We do have to work on a long-term strategy about how we are going to live with corona. Now maximum creativity is needed to ensure that everyone can continue to participate in society in the long term. Testing as much as possible is an important part of that strategy.” PVV MP Fleur Agema is ‘grateful’ that the House ‘presses the pause button’: ,,The scientific basis is lacking for 2G and also for 3G at work and in education. I hope it also comes to an end.”
D66 MP Jan Paternotte is disappointed: ,,The alternative is a longer lockdown, hibernation in the evening. The Netherlands keeps postponing such difficult choices. We are in an evening lockdown, this is a way to get out faster. For entrepreneurs, culture makers, for everything that cannot go on. Country after country is using this to stay open.”
dichotomy
Critics argue that the 2G protocol is creating a divide in an already polarized society. According to calculations by the Outbreak Management Team, 2G can help a lot against infections and hospitalizations. Compared to 3G, the number of infections could be halved, the number of hospital admissions would fall by more than 80 percent.
The cabinet is therefore sticking to 2G and a broader use of the corona pass, writes De Jonge: “Without the application of 2G, certain sectors, such as parts of the catering industry, cultural institutions and events, will have to remain closed longer than necessary.” In January, more will be clear about the new omikron variant, and the effectiveness of 3G and 2G will also be substantiated even better. “These are crucial building blocks that can be involved by your House.”
The House will not discuss the route booklet around 2G and 3G in more places until 11 January. Then it will be clearer about the new variant, the effects of the evening lockdown and experiences with 2G and 3G in other countries.
Vaccination obligation
The 2G discussion has already been overtaken in several other countries by the debate about a mandatory corona vaccination. Austria and Germany want to make the vaccination mandatory from February, other countries work with a duty in various sectors – healthcare, education, defence.
In the Netherlands, the injection obligation is currently not an issue. There are no cabinet plans, Prime Minister Rutte said during the latest corona press conference. “But you can’t rule out anything either.” And De Jonge said about this on Friday: “I have learned not to be too firm.”
A parliamentary majority also leaves the option of a mandatory corona vaccination open. Last week, parliament voted on a Forum for Democracy motion against compulsory vaccination, but it failed to win a majority. VVD, D66, CDA, GroenLinks and PvdA, among others, voted against that motion
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