The GGD Fryslân has sounded the alarm around continuously rising Coronavirus figures in the Sneek region
Translated by Thomas Ansell
In the last seven days, reports the Omrop Fryslân, 264 positive Coronavirus cases have been recorded: meaning that the rate per-100,000 residents currently sits at 294. Only two other Gemeentes in Friesland are anywhere near this level: Noardeast-Fryslân (229 per 100,000 residents) and Dantumadiel (211 positive cases per 100,000 residents). Once more than 250 cases per 100,000 residents are recorded, the Dutch government usually classifies an area as ‘very severely’ affected by the Coronavirus.
“We’re seeing outbreaks in schools and in care institutions”, says Everhard Hofstra, of the GGD Fryslân, “but that’s because you see lots of positive cases in the regions around these institutions. We don’t see any high-concentration sources relating to a specific institution or business.”
The GGD in Friesland has stopped short of suggesting further regulations to halt the spread in the affected localities. “Shutting shopping streets doesn’t tend to make a difference to cases, and so we don’t advise taking that course of action. You don’t want to introduce regulations that put pressure on society.”
In the end, it’s up to local Mayors to come up with new regulations: “that has to be done in concert with local residents and areas; if you have a rule in a specific region than people will often just go to a neighbouring region”, says Hofstra.
Hofstra doesn’t think that this evening’s press conference, to be held by PM Mark Rutte, will bring about a relaxing of restrictions. “If I look at the numbers from recent weeks then you can’t really relax restrictions. The regulations are very important.”
Foto door Markus Spiske via Pexels
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