The Outbreak Management Team (OMT) says that corona has reached an endemic phase in our country. This means that the coronavirus can be treated in the same way as, for example, a flu virus. That is why the OMT also recommends scrapping the latest corona rules, including testing and isolation.
At the moment, it is still advised to get tested in case of complaints and to go into isolation if the corona test is positive. But those measures should be equated as much as possible with “generic measures” that apply to other respiratory infections, the OMT believes. “After all, cough and hand hygiene also apply to these, and staying home if you don’t feel fit and sick.”
That is why the OMT no longer believes it is necessary to test people for the corona virus on a large scale. High-risk groups can still do a self-test or a regular test through their doctor. This also means that the test lanes of the GGDs can be scaled down. But the OMT does want the GGDs to be able to scale up again if necessary.
In principle, healthcare workers no longer have to wear a mouth-nose mask if they come within 1.5 meters of a patient. “That is generally no longer necessary in the current epidemiological phase.”
Risk groups must remain alert
The OMT does emphasize that there is still a group that is at risk of becoming seriously ill from the corona virus. This group should keep that in mind. This can be done, for example, by keeping someone who has complaints at a distance or – if that is not possible – by having them wear a face mask.
The advice concludes with the conclusion that there is a new phase in the corona pandemic due to “built-up immunity after vaccination and/or infection and an average mild course of infections”. As a result, specific corona measures may be canceled, the OMT believes.
It’s still advice. The cabinet ultimately decides whether the last rules will actually be scrapped.