If the Netherlands is a corona patient, his situation will deteriorate rapidly. On Thursday, RIVM reported more than 16,000 positive tests, by far the highest number on a day so far.
Where there was previously little discussion with these kinds of figures about taking strict measures quickly, the outgoing cabinet is now hesitating. During hours-long discussions at the Catshuis on Thursday, the ministers involved were unable to agree on whether lockdown-like measures can now be justified again. A final decision is expected on Friday, and a corona press conference will be held on Friday evening.
The day started with the leaking of the advice of the Outbreak Management Team (OMT). That meeting on Wednesday and concluded that serious measures are needed soon to reduce the number of infections. The OMT advice is not yet public, but the experts would have advised the cabinet to look at, among other things, shorter opening hours for catering and non-essential shops, closing theaters and cinemas and banning major events for a number of weeks.
‘Sturdier than expected’
The OMT advice was “stronger than expected,” says a source around the cabinet. At the start of this week, there was still hope in cabinet circles that the increase in hospital admissions would level off, but that has not yet happened. It was also hoped that the behavioral advice from last week’s press conference, such as the call to keep distance, would have an effect. But behavioral research conducted by RIVM last week shows that citizens are not paying enough attention to the repeated advice. In addition, it has become apparent that the control of the corona pass leaves something to be desired in too many places.
The extra measures that the cabinet had wanted to take are not expected to do enough against the virus
The extra measures that the cabinet had wanted to take, such as the use of the corona pass in amusement parks and in the workplace, are not expected to do enough against the virus or cost more time due to a change in the law. That is why the cabinet came to the conclusion on Thursday that “a short blow” is needed again, and that new measures that affect the entire population and entire sectors are inevitable.
That is a major setback, because the cabinet wanted to spare the vast majority of vaccinated people and wanted to keep sectors open with the corona pass safely.
‘They don’t agree on anything’
According to insiders, the atmosphere at the Catshuis was tense because of great division between the ministers. “They just don’t agree on anything,” said a source around the cabinet. Another person involved spoke of “a complex discussion”. This would mainly have focused on the question to what extent the OMT advice should be followed in full.
Part of the cabinet, led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD) and corona minister Hugo de Jonge (Public Health, CDA), is very concerned about the cries for help from hospitals, which see staff succumb and have to postpone operations again.
Other ministers are particularly concerned about the limited support in society for strict measures and, moreover, fear new economic and social damage. A series of interest groups, from employers to the culture and sports sector, announced on Thursday that they could no longer cope with new closures or restrictions.
Also read: 2G policy is a ‘difficult story’, also in the Netherlands
There is also division within the cabinet about how long new measures will apply. Although the OMT has proposed a strict package for a few weeks at most, it is questionable whether that is realistic. Previously, the cabinet regularly announced lockdowns or heavy measures for a short period, but they turned out to be necessary for much longer to really relieve the pressure on healthcare. The controversial curfew, which was to apply for two weeks, was ultimately in effect for three months.
The OMT would also have advised to relax if the corona figures do improve quickly, by means of a so-called 2G system, which is used in Austria, among other places. This is a politically controversial measure in which only vaccinated people and people who have proof that they have recovered from the virus can use the corona pass. Others would then no longer have access to places where the pass must be shown. There was also a fierce and “principled” discussion in the cabinet about this on Thursday. The ChristenUnie in particular is strongly opposed to such a 2G system.
A version of this article also appeared in NRC in the morning of November 12, 2021
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