Virologists in the Netherlands have proposed extending the Christmas holidays to slow the rise in COVID-19 infections among children, which has led half of schools across the country to switch to e-learning.
The National Institutes of Health (RIVM) announced this week a record number of infections that had exceeded 110,000 by November 16, a 44% increase over the previous week. The largest increase is recorded among children aged four to 12 years.
Infections among children aged five to nine years increased by almost 85% and infections between the ages of 10-14 years increased by 76%.
“Keeping primary schools closed for longer is an effective way to keep the virus under control,” immunologist Herr Rickers told Algemeen Dagblad. “Children are virus factories and they infect adults as well as each other.”
Not all experts agree that closing schools is the best option: Marion Kupmans, a virologist and member of the country’s COVID-19 advisory team, told the newspaper that “we will have to think of other measures” if rates are not reduced .
All 12 Dutch provinces are expected to switch to deep red – the highest level of alert – for the first time on a weekly map released by the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) every Thursday.
With nearly 85% of adults fully vaccinated, more than 20,000 new coronavirus infections were recorded in two consecutive days this week, the highest number to date, causing a shortage of COVID-19 testing in health centers.
The latest wave began when the government ended social distancing and other measures in September, a decision that has since been reversed.
Incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s proposal to exclude the unvaccinated from a free for indoor events has met with opposition in parliament.
The Ruthe government reintroduced the use of protective masks in shops and some lockstones, closing bars and restaurants after 8 p.m. The government will discuss new measures tomorrow Friday.
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