More relaxations, also for some students

This was said at the latest press conference held by Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister of Health Ernst Kuipers. Rutte said that the Government is consciously pushing the limits of what is possible. After all, the number of infections is already sky-high and will now rise even faster.

The Cabinet is following the Outbreak Management Team’s (OMT) advice that had already been made public before the press conference and, regarding the late closing time, even goes two hours further than the experts suggested.

Quarantine
The quarantine obligation was also adjusted yesterday. Students over 18 years old may abide by the general rule that they do not have to go into quarantine if they have received a booster vaccine more than a week ago. Or if they have had Covid less than eight weeks ago, as long as they have no symptoms.

Quarantine rules for students vary

The Government did not mention yesterday the previous OMT recommendation of admission to the campus after five consecutive days of negative self-testing.

This means that the quarantine rules for students vary, depending on their age and vaccination status. Those who have symptoms should still stay at home and do a self-test. Those who are infected must self-isolate.

Exceptions for teachers
For teachers and lecturers with ‘essential roles’ in education, or in ‘exceptional situations’, an exception to the quarantine rules may be made, as long as the employee is not physically ill. According to a press release from the Ministry of Health, this is only possible ‘in proper consultation between employer and employee and under strict conditions, such as daily self-testing’.

Kuipers did warn that the number of infections will increase

In practice, this can only apply to lecturers who have not had a booster shot (or who have had it less than a week ago) or who have not been vaccinated at all.

And what about the rules for lecture halls? Nothing will change in this respect, according to a spokesperson from the Ministry. A maximum of 75 students may congregate there at any one time. The general corona rules remain in force: keep a distance of 1.5 metres where possible, wash your hands regularly, wear a mask in public areas and ventilate well.

Face masks
Students and staff no longer have to wear a mask ‘always and everywhere’ on campus, according to a letter from the Cabinet. The obligation to wear a mask does not apply to students with a fixed seat or standing place with enough room to keep distance. Kuipers did warn that the number of infections will increase. As a result, more people will go into quarantine and some places will still be closed – due to a lack of staff – despite the new rules.

The measures will in principle apply for six weeks, with a ‘weighing moment’ in three weeks’ time. It could be that the Cabinet will have to become stricter after all, Rutte warned. He predicted that he would then probably be accused of a ‘yo-yo policy’, but he was willing to take that risk.

(HOP, Bas Belleman and Josefine van Enk)