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Marc Van Ranst argues for the Irish system: the greater the risk …

Marc Van Ranst

Foto: Photo News

Professor Marc Van Ranst continues to be amazed at the lack of government action to avoid the second corona wave. He proposes that we take an example of the Irish system which, a bit like the terror alarm in our country, foresees several phases with appropriate measures each time.

“Dublin has a Covid-19 incidence of 114 infections per 100,000 people in 14 days, and is moving into phase 3. All restaurants and pubs will be banned from receiving guests for three weeks. Mandate home work when possible. No (family) parties, no events, no sports competitions, ”says the Leuven virologist.

In Brussels (213 per 100,000 on 14 days), Antwerp (212), Liège (131) and Ghent (111), we would have had to use the same system, and would also be in the ‘Irish’ phase 3. But with us, the measures are much more flexible. And that is detrimental, according to the virologist who concludes: “We stand by and we look at it. And at once we say ‘If only we had …’. What we need is a system with different phases with different measures. Ireland is a good example. ”

The Irish system is clear to everyone. With five colors. Green means low contamination. At a wedding, 100 men may be present. In regions with a very high infection rate (purple color), only 6 men may be present. In the best case, 100 to 200 people may be present at indoor events. But in orange, red or purple (serious to very serious) no indoor events with public are allowed in those regions.

On Friday evening, it became known that the Netherlands has now divided various parts of the country into three risk categories to stop the second corona wave.

According to Minister of Public Health De Jonge, the situation in six regions is so worrying that extra restrictions are needed there to reduce the number of infections. The highest alarm phase (3), in which hard extra measures are required, does not yet apply anywhere. However, phase 2 is in effect in a number of regions such as Amsterdam-Amstelland, Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Haaglanden, Utrecht, Kennemerland and Hollands Midden. This means that additional measures are needed on top of the existing restrictions. The catering industry must close earlier and groups may consist of a maximum of 50 people.

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