“There is more and more an atmosphere of ‘it is normal again’, but it is not normal. I’m shocked by that, “says virologist Coretta Van Leer. “The virus is not gone, so if you relax too much now, we will have outbreaks within a few days. It can go that fast, “warns virologist Coretta van Leer.
Infections can get out of hand
Because, argues Van Leer, the chance of a massive outbreak of the coronavirus is still present. Currently, according to the RIVM, there are approximately 1700 confirmed infections. With that number, “potential can get out of hand.”
Van Leer calculates for a moment. “Before the lockdown, the virus doubled every two days, if you keep that up with the current infections, you will be at half a million infections after sixteen days.”
New outbreaks in a short time
But the world looks different now. “We have of course taken measures: wear face masks in public transport, work at home, keep distance. But if we let all those measures slacken at the same time, you will have new outbreaks in a few days. And then it is really about days, because it can go very quickly. “
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More freedom than allowed
It seems that we are taking more freedom than we are allowed to, Van Leer thinks. ‘In Groningen we have always been lucky that there was little COVID, so you can make a mistake. But the more mobile and relaxed we become, the more people will mix. ‘
And there is an extra danger. ‘There are also more people from other provinces, so you have no idea who is next to you. Then I don’t think keeping a meter and a half away is a big sacrifice. “
Relaxation increases the chance of strict measures
The more we relax in the continuation of the measures, the greater the chance that they will have to be tightened up again. “I would be very afraid that the catering industry should be closed again. It has cost us a lot as a society and for the people who earn their living with it. So I’d rather stick to the rules than say boys, this is getting out of hand and we’re going to quit. “
‘Make a risk assessment’
That is why Van Leer recommends taking well-considered risks. “If I accept a risk for myself, then I do that for things that are very valuable to me. That was, for example, a visit to the hairdresser. Being close to each other in a busy shopping street is not worth much to me, because it is so easy not to do that. “
Back to a lockdown?
Van Leer does not see a complete lockdown that the cabinet decided in March or even a regional lockdown. “We now have much better tools to quickly nip small outbreaks in the bud.”
With this, Van Leer refers to the modified test policy, since last week anyone with complaints can be tested for the corona virus.
“So you can look for the contacts of someone who has been tested positive. For example, if there is an outbreak in a school, you can only close that school. That way you can avoid having to lock all of Groningen. “
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