Two steps forward and one step back
Translated by Thomas Ansell
When the Netherlands decided to shed most of it’s Coronavirus regulations at the end of June, the mood across the country was one of jubilation. But now, just two weeks later, it seems that perhaps the country wasn’t quite in the stable position it had expected. Coronavirus figures are spiking across the country, and especially so in a few hotspots (like the City of Groningen).
Now, the Dutch government is beginning to wake up to reality, and will likely raise the official ‘risk level’ in both Groningen and Friesland this week. Friesland still remains one of the least affected areas in the Netherlands, with 178 new infections confirmed on Sunday- 30 down on Saturday’s total of 208 new cases (as reported by the Omrop Fryslân).
Friesland would be raised to level 2 out of 4 (‘worrying’), and Groningen to level 3 out of 4 (‘serious’).
According to the Dutch government’s Coronavirus dashboard, 9,398 new cases were confirmed across the country: the average over the 7 days before that was just 5,630 per day. Only three people were hospitalized, however, down from a high of 69 people on June 7.
665 people tested positive in Groningen on Sunday, though it should also be said that there were no hospital admissions: lending weight to the idea that most of the new cases have occurred in younger people who are less likely to develop serious complications.
Photo by Matteo Jorjoson on Unsplash
