Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
A sign stating an Amsterdam HEMA outlet is closed during the coronavirus lockdown. December 20, 2021
A sign stating an Amsterdam HEMA outlet is closed during the coronavirus lockdown. December 20, 2021 - Credit: NL Times / NL Times - License: All Rights Reserved
Health
RIVM
Omicron
lockdown
Susan van den Hof
Covid-19
Coronavirus
SARS-CoV-2
vaccination
booster shot
Covid-19 vaccination
Wednesday, 22 December 2021 - 07:47
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Lockown won't stop Omicron wave, health service says

The current lockdown will slow down a new wave of coronavirus infections and hospital admissions, but won't prevent it, public health institute RIVM said. The cause is the rapid advance of the more contagious Omicron variant, RIVM epidemiologist Susan van den Hof said to the RIVM.

This past weekend, Omicron accounted for 10 to 15 percent of infections. The RIVM expects this to increase by half by the end of this week and that Omicron will be the dominant variant before the end of the year.

"We expect that the combination of booster shots and current measures can greatly dampen the effect of Omicron," Van der Hof said to the broadcaster. "The extent to which that works depends on the pathogenic capacity of this variant. If that turns out to be not too bad, the peak in hospitals will be slightly less high. If not, then that peak will be really high."

"The booster seems to be of great help in boosting the decreased protection against Omicron," Van der Hof said. It should reduce the number of infections.

The expectation is that all over 18-year-olds who want one can get a booster shot by the end of January. Based on this, the RIVM calculates that the number of positive tests, which currently shows a steady decline, will increase again around New Year's. Seven to ten days later, this will translate into an increase in hospital admissions. The RIVM is concerned about this, as hospital occupancy has been high for some time now, and there is therefore little buffer to deal with a new wave.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Politicians dumping TikTok after election campaigns over privacy concerns
  • Flags flying half-mast as Netherlands commemorates 1953 flood disaster
  • Catering sector to blacklist people who misbehave in clubs, bars
  • Education Min. adjusting rules to limit influx of international students
  • Inflation dropped to 7.6 percent in January
  • Confidence in the EU economy is rising again, the Netherlands is lagging behind

Top stories

  • Catering sector to blacklist people who misbehave in clubs, bars
  • Education Min. adjusting rules to limit influx of international students
  • Inflation dropped to 7.6 percent in January
  • Cabinet may use Lelystad Airport, empty churches to shelter asylum seekers & refugees
  • Netherlands named 8th least corrupt nation in annual review, but issues remain
  • Dutch human rights institute critical of “disproportionate” arrest of climate protesters

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content