The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, aka the ‘Dutch Sciensano’, also sees no evidence on the basis of the latest scientific data to make the wearing of mouth masks compulsory. That said corona advisor of the institute Jaap van Dissel after a meeting with the chairmen of the security regions and Minister of Medical Care Tamara van Ark.
RIVM has “extensively looked at scientific evidence” about the effect of mouth masks in public space. But enough evidence about this “is simply missing,” says Van Dissel. It is already the third time that the National Institute examines the use of non-medical mouth caps.
Experiment
The Security Council nevertheless decided that the 25 security regions should experiment with mouth masks. The conditions are still under consideration. Van Ark emphasized that keeping 1.5 meters away is “the most effective” against corona. It is therefore important now to focus on influencing behavior, so that more people follow the rules.
Infections slightly up
About the increasing number of infections in the Netherlands, Van Dissel said that they could be expected, because the corona rules have simply been relaxed. Clusters are now emerging at family parties and student get-togethers. At home parties, the basic rules should simply be observed, according to the RIVM chief: stay home in case of illness and keep 1.5 m away.
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