No new Covid restrictions needed, Dutch health min. says

Health Minister Ernst Kuipers calls on all Netherlands residents to adhere to the basic measures to prevent a coronavirus infection. The many people over 60 who haven't gotten their repeat booster shot yet must do so. "Get that repeat shot." Extra coronavirus measures are not yet necessary, Kuipers said after an extra consultation with the most involved Ministers about the rising coronavirus infections.

The government doesn't think an extra round of vaccinations is necessary yet. The number of infections has risen by more than 70 percent in the past week. The number of Covid-19 patients in the hospital is also increasing.

Additional measures are not yet necessary, but the basic measures are now more relevant, Kuipers said. "Stick to the basic measures. Wash your hands, ventilate well, keep your distance where possible." And take account of people with vulnerable health. "They are even more concerned about contracting this infection."

The new revival of the virus did not surprise Kuipers. "We know that the virus is not gone. There are always new variants, like the new Omicron variants. They are very contagious, but fortunately don't make people very sick."

But that is not the case for everyone. "Some of the infected people get so sick that they need help."

Kuipers could not give figures on the number of patients hospitalized because of a coronavirus infection and the number of patients infected in the hospital. That doesn't matter to the nursing staff, he said.