Corona update: police break up house party

The number of corona infections in the Netherlands is rising unabated. The virus is mostly flaring up among young people, and thus among students. Of the people in Delft who tested positive, an incredible 80% are students. Student associations were alarmed and in a joint letter called on their members to stick to the rules. A website thuisbesmet.nl (in Dutch) was even made containing important information and tips to avoid spreading the coronavirus.

‘We do have some hope that it will flatten in Delft’

In a meeting last Thursday with the Executive Board, the Works Council and the Student Council, Rector Magnificus Tim van der Hagen looked back over the recent past. He praised the initiative of the student associations and hopes “to slowly push out the perception in society that students are disregarding the rules”.

Vice Rector Rob Mudde too said that he appreciates the efforts of the student associations. “The Mayor regularly confers with the group of students who are taking the lead and the student associations are also taking responsibility.” The Delftsch Studenten Corps closed its doors a while ago and Virgiel is now closed too. Mudde also reports good news: the rate of infection is growing at a slower rate. “We have some hope that it will flatten in Delft.”

House party
Despite the good intentions, it went wrong this weekend. The police had to break up a party with about 30 students in a student house on Saturday night. According to the community police officer Wouter van Randwijk, the students were not housemates.

During the meeting, Van der Hagen said that closing universities is still an option. “Imagine you are Mark Rutte or Hugo De Jonge. Society is pressuring you to take more stringent measures as the virus is out of control. What measures can you take? One of them is for the Government to close all universities. We know that this won’t help at all as the campus is not where it happens. You could say it is symbolic politics, but it could happen to us.”

Security staff
As closing TU Delft is, currently at least, out of the question, Works Council member Maarten Bakker enquired into local protocols. Under what circumstances would the Executive Board decide to close a faculty or building to avoid jeopardising the safety of staff and students? Bakker says that not all staff members feel safe on campus.

While the Executive Board would rather not close buildings, it does want to make sure that people can work safely. Van der Hagen calls on staff members who do not feel comfortable to be on campus to discuss this with their managers. “There is a lot of understanding. We are not forcing anyone to attend a group or be in a lab.”

Masks
Students are divided about safety on campus. Delta asked students on Instagram to share their opinions. Of the 47 students that replied, more than half believe that the campus is safe. Elda say that it is safer there than in the supermarket. And Rens noted that it is always very quiet on campus and that ‘there is space enough’. But Camal believes it is too soon for physical teaching and Revanth is concerned about the professors: ‘they are taking the biggest risk’.

Six concerned students say that they would feel safer if everyone on campus would wear masks. What is the mask policy, asked Works Council member Menno Blaauw of the Executive Board during the meeting. Can these be worn all over campus? And can TU Delft not simply order a pile of masks and hand them out on campus?

Board member Nicoly Vermeulen was clear. “We do not forbid anyone to wear a mask, but you may be asked to quickly remove the mask to identify yourself.” They promised to look into the request to hand out masks.

• Delta publishes a weekly corona update. Should there be any serious local measures, we report it on the corona liveblog.