Higher education will remain in lockdown
Primary schools will reopen next week, but universities will have to wait a little longer. The situation remains extremely worrying, write the experts of the Outbreak Management Team (OMT) in its advice to the Dutch government.
The OMT is divided, according to a letter on the subject from the government. Some members would rather keep the primary schools closed, because the number of infections with the coronavirus is only slowly decreasing. When the schools are reopened, the team foresees a “sharp increase in the pressure on healthcare”, with large margins of uncertainty: things could just get worse than expected.
Impact
Nevertheless, the majority of the OMT agrees with the reopening of primary education (and childcare for children up to the age of four), because of the ‘social impact’ if the schools remain closed. Colleges and universities are not addressed in the letter. For them, the current measures apply at least until 8 February. They are allowed to provide practical education and exams on campus, but all other education is online. Only for ‘vulnerable students’ can they make an exception. (HOP, Bas Belleman)
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