LIVE | De Jonge: mouth masking is always possible, if necessary | Inland

Healthcare minister Hugo de Jonge thinks that it is “a matter of getting used to” before the Netherlands follows the advice en masse to wear a mouth mask in public places. “If it proves necessary at some point, it can always be given a more obligatory design, but let’s do it this way first.”

The cabinet has long opposed the use of face masks in the fight against the corona virus. The measure would provide a false sense of security and could hinder compliance with more important rules, in particular the 1.5 meter distance. During a corona debate this week, Prime Minister Mark Rutte, at the insistence of almost the entire House of Representatives, nevertheless issued an urgent advice to wear mouth masks in the public interior space.

Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus does not see any obligation to contribute for the time being. “Let’s just do this urgent advice together first,” he says. “You do not always have to make something compulsory in the law, with punishment and the like.” Moreover, according to the minister, many people adhere to that advice.

Moreover, making mouth masks mandatory is a lot of trouble. “In order to impose an obligation, we would really have to change the law,” said Grapperhaus. “Then you get a discussion about fundamental rights and the like, which is really a bit more difficult.”

More clarity about mouth masks advice

The cabinet will announce the exact details of the ‘urgent advice’ for masks in public indoor spaces on Friday afternoon on the website of the national government. This aims to remove any uncertainty about the advice.

It is expected that these details will be shared with the Prime Minister before 6 p.m., possibly after the weekly press conference. Deputy Prime Minister Kajsa Ollongren will give that press conference this Friday, because Rutte is in Brussels for an extra EU summit. She also heads the Council of Ministers this week. It is the first time that she has replaced Rutte since she returned from sick leave this spring. Before that, she did it twice before, in 2018.

Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced that the advice immediately applies to the entire country, for all places “where you cannot see the sky.” The prime minister mentioned, among other things, shops, museums, airports, parking garages and petrol stations.

Many questions

He acknowledged that this advice could raise many questions. For example, at stations there is a recommendation to wear mouth masks, while they are mandatory on the train. It is also recommended to wear them when visiting cafes, theaters or restaurants, but they are no longer needed once someone sits down. After all, chairs or stools can be placed 1.5 meters apart.

In many other countries it is mandatory from a certain age to wear a mouth mask. Rutte does not want to go that far, despite the fact that some opposition parties had asked for it. For a long time, the Netherlands was reluctant to use mouth masks. Now experts argue that broad use can contribute to reducing the corona virus.

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Financial-economic:

Sport:

Entertainment:

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View the corona news here Thursday, October 1, September

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