Head of infectious diseases GGD Amsterdam: public health at risk | Inland

She says that in an interview with AT5. Van Duijnhoven responds to the number of more than 3,000 coronavirus infections that were detected in Amsterdam in the past two weeks. The number of residents of the New West District who tested positive doubled. “Of course I was shocked,” said the head of infectious diseases. “It is a very worrying situation. We as GGD are responsible for public health in the city and I really feel that public health is at risk at the moment. ”

Van Duijnhoven indicates that the number of infections is high in the New West and Southeast districts. “But in recent weeks we have seen an increase in all districts. What we see in New West, as in other parts of the city, is that many young people contract it, between the ages of 19 and 30. That is about 40 percent of all infections. ”

According to the head of infectious diseases, the GGD in New West and Southeast must make extra efforts. “We know that a lot of people do not always follow everything there,” she says, referring to, among other things, the press conferences about corona. “I think it is really necessary that we as the GGD go into those neighborhoods to tell more about the measures and what people can do. I think the message doesn’t get there as easily. ”

A large part of the infections takes place in home situations, according to Van Duijnhoven. “At home with family or friends. Then that 1.5 meters is also very important. I think that people there are less likely to use that distance in familiarity. ”

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