Coronavirus tests for holidaymakers will cost €350m, ministers say
3 years, 7 months ago

Coronavirus tests for holidaymakers will cost €350m, ministers say

Dutch News  

Giving free coronavirus tests to holidaymakers who have not been vaccinated or had a second dose will cost up to €350m and there are many doubts about how to put the plan into practice, health minister Hugo de Jonge and infrastructure minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen have told MPs. One option would be to allow travel organisations to deal with the testing process and then to refund them, but this could conflict with EU rules on state support for industry. A second option would be to use regional health boards – even though their task is to ensure public health, not commercial testing. ‘Of course, the cabinet will do all it can to manage these, but cannot rule them out.’ The free test would only apply to the outward journey.

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History of this topic

Government drops self testing and quarantine for coronavirus
1 year, 9 months ago

Government drops self testing and quarantine for coronavirus

Dutch News  

The cabinet on Friday agreed to scrap the last of the coronavirus measures currently in place, dropping the self-test requirement if people have complaints as well as the remaining quarantine measures. ‘By ending the last of the coronavirus measures, we are leaving behind an extraordinary period, and one which we will not forget quickly,’ Kuipers said. The public health institute …

Coronavirus test centres can close, self-testing can stop, advisors say
1 year, 10 months ago

Coronavirus test centres can close, self-testing can stop, advisors say

Dutch News  

The government’s coronavirus advisory team says mass testing at regional centres can be wound down and that the recommendation to use self tests if people have symptoms can be dropped. In its 146th set of recommendations since the pandemic began three years ago, the Outbreak Management Team says the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and its sub variants is now …

Coronavirus test centres can close, self-testing can stop, advisors say
1 year, 10 months ago

Coronavirus test centres can close, self-testing can stop, advisors say

Dutch News  

The government’s coronavirus advisory team says mass testing at regional centres can be wound down and that the recommendation to use self tests if people have symptoms can be dropped. In its 146th set of recommendations since the pandemic began three years ago, the Outbreak Management Team says the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and its sub variants is now …

Prominent Dutch virologist: Coronavirus test for travelers from China is a good idea
2 years ago

Prominent Dutch virologist: Coronavirus test for travelers from China is a good idea

NL Times  

A mandatory negative coronavirus test for people traveling from China is a good idea if that rule is implemented across all of Europe, said prominent virologist Ab Osterhaus. Currently, travelers from China have to complete a coronavirus test on arrival in Italy, but the Dutch Ministry of Health has said it does not intend to implement new restrictions at this …

Minister won't guarantee no lockdowns if new coronavirus variant hits
2 years, 6 months ago

Minister won't guarantee no lockdowns if new coronavirus variant hits

Dutch News  

Dutch health minister Ernst Kuipers has said he cannot guarantee that a new lockdown will not be imposed in the Netherlands because of the risk that a new, more infectious and problematic variant of coronavirus will hit. Vaccinations The minister also told MPs on Thursday that he is not concerned about regional health board capacity to carry out a new …

Minister won't guarantee no lockdowns if new coronavirus variant hits
2 years, 6 months ago

Minister won't guarantee no lockdowns if new coronavirus variant hits

Dutch News  

Dutch health minister Ernst Kuipers has said he cannot guarantee that a new lockdown will not be imposed in the Netherlands because of the risk that a new, more infectious and problematic variant of coronavirus will hit. Vaccinations The minister also told MPs on Thursday that he is not concerned about regional health board capacity to carry out a new …

U.S. to lift COVID-19 test requirement for international air arrivals
2 years, 6 months ago

U.S. to lift COVID-19 test requirement for international air arrivals

LA Times  

The lifting of the COVID-19 test requirement for international air travel ends one of the last government mandates meant to contain the coronavirus. The Biden administration is lifting its requirement that international air travelers to the U.S. take a COVID-19 test within a day before boarding their flights, easing one of the last remaining government mandates meant to contain the …

Fewer than 500 people are now hospitalised with coronavirus
2 years, 7 months ago

Fewer than 500 people are now hospitalised with coronavirus

Dutch News  

The number of coronavirus patients being treated in Dutch hospitals fell below 500 on Thursday, for the first time since October 2021. The number of people testing positive for coronavirus fell to 10,000 last week but the figure is no longer an accurate representation of the spread of the virus, given that people are no longer been recommended to have …

Fewer than 500 people are now hospitalised with coronavirus
2 years, 7 months ago

Fewer than 500 people are now hospitalised with coronavirus

Dutch News  

The number of coronavirus patients being treated in Dutch hospitals fell below 500 on Thursday, for the first time since October 2021. The number of people testing positive for coronavirus fell to 10,000 last week but the figure is no longer an accurate representation of the spread of the virus, given that people are no longer been recommended to have …

Scientists fear U.K. is easing coronavirus testing and monitoring too soon
2 years, 9 months ago

Scientists fear U.K. is easing coronavirus testing and monitoring too soon

LA Times  

A lab assistant points at charts of a sequenced coronavirus sample at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in England. Britain is now ending some testing and monitoring programs, a move some scientists fear will complicate efforts to track the virus and detect worrisome new variants. After dropping nearly all coronavirus restrictions last month, Britain is now ending some of its most …

At long last, WHO issues coronavirus testing advice
2 years, 9 months ago

At long last, WHO issues coronavirus testing advice

LA Times  

A woman is tested for a coronavirus infection at the Lenasia South Hospital near Johannesburg in South Africa. The advice comes months after critics said the lack of recommendations from the global health agency was compromising efforts to stop the pandemic in poor countries. At a press briefing on Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency was concerned …

Carnival, winter sports and no rules: coronavirus cases rise
2 years, 10 months ago

Carnival, winter sports and no rules: coronavirus cases rise

Dutch News  

The number of positive coronavirus tests registered in the Netherlands reached over 48,500 in the 24 hours to Wednesday morning, and that is the highest number in two weeks. The combination of winter sports holidays, the carnival celebrations and the end of most coronavirus measures are likely to be behind the increase, health experts say. Wednesday’s coronavirus cases in NL: …

Boris Johnson says scrapping Covid isolation requirements is ‘moment of pride’
2 years, 10 months ago

Boris Johnson says scrapping Covid isolation requirements is ‘moment of pride’

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Boris Johnson has …

Sweden ends coronavirus testing along with all pandemic restrictions
2 years, 10 months ago

Sweden ends coronavirus testing along with all pandemic restrictions

LA Times  

Sweden has halted wide-scale testing for the coronavirus even among people showing COVID-19 symptoms, putting an end to the pop-up tents, drive-in swab centers and home-delivered tests that became ubiquitous during the pandemic and provided essential data for tracking its spread. Bharat Pankhania, a senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical School in England, said that with a …

Free Covid tests distributed by White House may not be considered valid for travel
2 years, 11 months ago

Free Covid tests distributed by White House may not be considered valid for travel

Daily Mail  

Dr David Weber, an epidemiologist at UNC-Chapel Hill, said that at-home tests distributed by the Biden administration may not be usable for travel requirements Free home COVID tests funded by Joe Biden will likely not be approved to get around existing travel rules because it is too easy to fake a negative result, a health expert has warned. Dr David …

UK to drop COVID-19 testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers
2 years, 11 months ago

UK to drop COVID-19 testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers

ABC  

The British government will scrap coronavirus testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers from next month, a decision the travel industry has hailed as a major step towards normality. Key points: From February 11, fully vaccinated travellers will no longer be required to take a COVID-19 test when arriving in the UK The travel industry has welcomed the decision, saying it …

Amsterdam stops walk-in coronavirus testing as demand soars
2 years, 11 months ago

Amsterdam stops walk-in coronavirus testing as demand soars

Dutch News  

Amsterdam’s regional health board has decided to stop offering coronavirus testing without appointments after long queues built up on several days. Demand According to the Volkskrant, health board test centres are currently dealing with 100,000 tests a day, setting a new record of 125,000 tests on Monday. On Wednesday, the health boards and test for entry foundation Stichting Open Nederland …

Amsterdam stops walk-in coronavirus testing as demand soars
2 years, 11 months ago

Amsterdam stops walk-in coronavirus testing as demand soars

Dutch News  

Amsterdam’s regional health board has decided to stop offering coronavirus testing without appointments after long queues built up on several days. Demand According to the Volkskrant, health board test centres are currently dealing with 100,000 tests a day, setting a new record of 125,000 tests on Monday. On Wednesday, the health boards and test for entry foundation Stichting Open Nederland …

Coronavirus rules unlikely to be relaxed significantly, OMT member warns
3 years ago

Coronavirus rules unlikely to be relaxed significantly, OMT member warns

Dutch News  

A key government advisor has told a television current affairs show that people should not expect the current coronavirus measures to be lifted significantly when they are reassessed next week. Speaking on Nieuwsuur, infectious diseases expert and Outbreak Management Team member Marc Bonten said that the presence of the Omicron variant of coronavirus requires caution and that people ‘should not …

Coronavirus rules unlikely to be relaxed significantly, OMT member warns
3 years ago

Coronavirus rules unlikely to be relaxed significantly, OMT member warns

Dutch News  

A key government advisor has told a television current affairs show that people should not expect the current coronavirus measures to be lifted significantly when they are reassessed next week. Speaking on Nieuwsuur, infectious diseases expert and Outbreak Management Team member Marc Bonten said that the presence of the Omicron variant of coronavirus requires caution and that people ‘should not …

Confidence in Dutch coronavirus strategy hits all time low
3 years ago

Confidence in Dutch coronavirus strategy hits all time low

Dutch News  

Support for the government’s strategy to deal with coronavirus is now at an all-time low, with just 16% of people positive about what ministers are doing, according to the latest survey by public health institute RIVM. Yet even though 39% were neutral about the approach and 46% negative, the pandemic rules, such as working from home and keeping your distance, …

Corona self-testing now official government advice: but are there risks?
3 years, 1 month ago

Corona self-testing now official government advice: but are there risks?

Dutch News  

The Dutch government has announced that people with mild cold symptoms can take a self-test for coronavirus, rather than being advised to get an official test immediately. Bert Niesters, professor in medical microbiology at the University of Groningen UMGG, told NOS that with very sick patients, the tests were likely to be accurate ‘but the problem is people with mild …

Corona self-testing now official government advice: but are there risks?
3 years, 1 month ago

Corona self-testing now official government advice: but are there risks?

Dutch News  

The Dutch government has announced that people with mild cold symptoms can take a self-test for coronavirus, rather than being advised to get an official test immediately. Bert Niesters, professor in medical microbiology at the University of Groningen UMGG, told NOS that with very sick patients, the tests were likely to be accurate ‘but the problem is people with mild …

Gov't to deploy self-tests for Covid symptoms as PCR capacity runs out
3 years, 1 month ago

Gov't to deploy self-tests for Covid symptoms as PCR capacity runs out

NL Times  

The caretaker Cabinet wants to widely use self-tests for people with coronavirus symptoms. The government is following advice from the Outbreak Management Team, which stated that "frequent and easily accessible self-testing can be an important addition to the current package, also for people with symptoms, and could help lower the threshold and increase the willingness for testing." "According to a …

Record number of coronavirus cases per day, hospital admissions 'rising fast'
3 years, 1 month ago

Record number of coronavirus cases per day, hospital admissions 'rising fast'

Dutch News  

More than 19,000 people were reported to have tested positive for coronavirus in the Netherlands in the last 24 hours, breaking the previous daily record by almost 3,000. Latest figures from the public health agency RIVM also showed 19.2% of all tests had a positive result, itself a record, while the seven-day average figure climbed to 14,499. If people can’t …

Record number of coronavirus cases per day, hospital admissions 'rising fast'
3 years, 1 month ago

Record number of coronavirus cases per day, hospital admissions 'rising fast'

Dutch News  

More than 19,000 people were reported to have tested positive for coronavirus in the Netherlands in the last 24 hours, breaking the previous daily record by almost 3,000. Latest figures from the public health agency RIVM also showed 19.2% of all tests had a positive result, itself a record, while the seven-day average figure climbed to 14,499. If people can’t …

More than half a million have a free coronavirus test in run up to stricter rules
3 years, 2 months ago

More than half a million have a free coronavirus test in run up to stricter rules

Dutch News  

A record 534,000 coronavirus tests were booked as part of the ‘test for entry’ scheme over the past week, the foundation running the programme said on Monday. Around half the people getting tested said they planned to visit a restaurant, café or club, while 5% were planning to take part in some form of sports. The QR code shows if …

More than half a million have a free coronavirus test in run up to stricter rules
3 years, 2 months ago

More than half a million have a free coronavirus test in run up to stricter rules

Dutch News  

A record 534,000 coronavirus tests were booked as part of the ‘test for entry’ scheme over the past week, the foundation running the programme said on Monday. Around half the people getting tested said they planned to visit a restaurant, café or club, while 5% were planning to take part in some form of sports. The QR code shows if …

Health Minister says new coronavirus measures will always be painful
3 years, 2 months ago

Health Minister says new coronavirus measures will always be painful

NL Times  

It is inevitable that the coronavirus measures the Cabinet will announce Tuesday night will include new restrictions, and that they will be painful. "Otherwise they will not work," said caretaker Health Minister Hugo de Jonge. New measures are inevitable "because we see that the hospital figures are rising," the health minister said. De Jonge said he wants to enact measures …

Travelers submitted to over 2.8 million coronavirus access tests this summer
3 years, 4 months ago

Travelers submitted to over 2.8 million coronavirus access tests this summer

NL Times  

Over 2.8 million appointments for free coronavirus tests were made by people who needed the tests to be able to travel in July and August, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management said on Wednesday. Out of the total, 2.55 million appointments were made at a commercial test location using testvoorjereis.nl, and the other appointments were with scheduled at a …

Just five coronavirus fines issued to drivers at Dutch border
3 years, 4 months ago

Just five coronavirus fines issued to drivers at Dutch border

Dutch News  

Border officials have handed out just five fines to motorists for not complying with coronavirus travel restrictions when entering the Netherlands from Belgium or Germany. Under rules which came into force on August 8, travellers from ‘yellow risk’ countries must carry proof of vaccination, recovery from infection or a negative test result. The border control force carried out 156 spot …

Just five coronavirus fines issued to drivers at Dutch border
3 years, 4 months ago

Just five coronavirus fines issued to drivers at Dutch border

Dutch News  

Border officials have handed out just five fines to motorists for not complying with coronavirus travel restrictions when entering the Netherlands from Belgium or Germany. Under rules which came into force on August 8, travellers from ‘yellow risk’ countries must carry proof of vaccination, recovery from infection or a negative test result. The border control force carried out 156 spot …

Parties support contribution towards test for access for unvaccinated
3 years, 4 months ago

Parties support contribution towards test for access for unvaccinated

Dutch News  

A small majority of MPs have supported a plan to charge people for coronavirus tests in order to access events. Although those who are unable to have a vaccine for some reason may have an exemption, people who have simply chosen not to be vaccinated will probably have to pay towards tests. Caretaker health minister Hugo de Jonge told a …

Parties support contribution towards test for access for unvaccinated
3 years, 4 months ago

Parties support contribution towards test for access for unvaccinated

Dutch News  

A small majority of MPs have supported a plan to charge people for coronavirus tests in order to access events. Although those who are unable to have a vaccine for some reason may have an exemption, people who have simply chosen not to be vaccinated will probably have to pay towards tests. Caretaker health minister Hugo de Jonge told a …

Column: Coronavirus tests are supposed to be free. But there’s a nasty loophole in the law
3 years, 4 months ago

Column: Coronavirus tests are supposed to be free. But there’s a nasty loophole in the law

LA Times  

Two federal laws specify that people shouldn’t be charged for coronavirus tests. “You would need to connect with the patient’s insurance carrier to determine why they have opted not to cover the lab fees,” said Joseph Goode, a spokesperson for the pharmacy chain. In a recent report titled “Price Gouging in a Public Health Crisis,” America’s Health Insurance Plans, an …

Access testing will no longer be free in an attempt to encourage Covid vaccination
3 years, 4 months ago

Access testing will no longer be free in an attempt to encourage Covid vaccination

NL Times  

Access testing will not be offered free of charge in the future, the Cabinet stated during the press conference on Friday. “We want to step away from the free tests”, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said during the press conference. “That makes it less attractive to not get vaccinated.” Mandatory vaccination is not on the table, for now, the Cabinet said. …

Rutte: self-testing is crucial to keep infections low in holiday season
3 years, 4 months ago

Rutte: self-testing is crucial to keep infections low in holiday season

Dutch News  

Prime minister Mark Rutte has urged people going abroad this summer to test themselves for coronavirus on their return, even if they have been vaccinated. Rutte said testing would play a ‘crucial’ role in keeping infections down going into the autumn. The government is sending letters out to eight million households this month that will allow them to claim two …

Rutte: self-testing is crucial to keep infections low in holiday season
3 years, 4 months ago

Rutte: self-testing is crucial to keep infections low in holiday season

Dutch News  

Prime minister Mark Rutte has urged people going abroad this summer to test themselves for coronavirus on their return, even if they have been vaccinated. Rutte said testing would play a ‘crucial’ role in keeping infections down going into the autumn. The government is sending letters out to eight million households this month that will allow them to claim two …

All eight million households in NL to get two free fast coronavirus tests
3 years, 4 months ago

All eight million households in NL to get two free fast coronavirus tests

Dutch News  

All eight million households in the Netherlands will this month receive an letter inviting them to apply for two free coronavirus self tests, the first of which are due to arrive this week. ‘By testing, we are reducing the chance that we inadvertently take coronavirus to our family, work or school, and we prevent clusters.’ Regional health board workers will …

All eight million households in NL to get two free fast coronavirus tests
3 years, 4 months ago

All eight million households in NL to get two free fast coronavirus tests

Dutch News  

All eight million households in the Netherlands will this month receive an letter inviting them to apply for two free coronavirus self tests, the first of which are due to arrive this week. ‘By testing, we are reducing the chance that we inadvertently take coronavirus to our family, work or school, and we prevent clusters.’ Regional health board workers will …

Most of the cheapest Covid travel tests on the government website are unavailable to holidaymakers
3 years, 5 months ago

Most of the cheapest Covid travel tests on the government website are unavailable to holidaymakers

Daily Mail  

The British advertising watchdog is probing the 'wild west' market place of Covid travel tests after it was found most of the cheaper swabs listed on the Government's website are not available to customers. The British advertising watchdog is probing the 'wild west' market place of Covid travel tests Private companies offering tests are listed on the Government's website, with …

Vaccinated people must also test for access to events, catering industry: Outbreak Team
3 years, 5 months ago

Vaccinated people must also test for access to events, catering industry: Outbreak Team

NL Times  

All people - vaccinated and unvaccinated - must be tested for the coronavirus before attending large events or going to busy catering establishments, the Outbreak Management Team said in advice to the government on Monday evening, NU.nl reports. This means that people with the coronavirus can still access events and venues that require a negative test, and spread the virus …

Positive coronavirus tests near 7,000 as government plans new measures
3 years, 5 months ago

Positive coronavirus tests near 7,000 as government plans new measures

Dutch News  

The number of positive coronavirus tests in the Netherlands almost hit 7,000 in the 24 hours to Friday morning. The news comes ahead of a government press conference to announce new efforts to tame the spread of the virus, just two weeks after most measures were scrapped. The new measures are needed because several million people have still not been …

Positive coronavirus tests near 7,000 as government plans new measures
3 years, 5 months ago

Positive coronavirus tests near 7,000 as government plans new measures

Dutch News  

The number of positive coronavirus tests in the Netherlands almost hit 7,000 in the 24 hours to Friday morning. The news comes ahead of a government press conference to announce new efforts to tame the spread of the virus, just two weeks after most measures were scrapped. The new measures are needed because several million people have still not been …

Positive coronavirus tests soar to 5,475 as ministers ponder tighter rules
3 years, 6 months ago

Positive coronavirus tests soar to 5,475 as ministers ponder tighter rules

Dutch News  

The number of positive coronavirus tests soared to 5,475 in the 24 hours to Thursday morning, leaving the government considering bringing back some of the measures which were abandoned last month. Although the rise in positive tests has not yet translated into an increase in hospital admissions, ‘things are going fast’, health minister Hugo de Jonge said in an initial …

Positive coronavirus tests soar to 5,475 as ministers ponder tighter rules
3 years, 6 months ago

Positive coronavirus tests soar to 5,475 as ministers ponder tighter rules

Dutch News  

The number of positive coronavirus tests soared to 5,475 in the 24 hours to Thursday morning, leaving the government considering bringing back some of the measures which were abandoned last month. Although the rise in positive tests has not yet translated into an increase in hospital admissions, ‘things are going fast’, health minister Hugo de Jonge said in an initial …

As coronavirus cases surge, summer holidays may be in doubt
3 years, 6 months ago

As coronavirus cases surge, summer holidays may be in doubt

Dutch News  

New European travel advice for the Netherlands may be disappointing because of the sudden rise in coronavirus cases, and this could mean Dutch holidaymakers having to quarantine abroad, health minister Hugo de Jonge has warned. The European centre for infectious diseases ECDC bases its assessment on the number of positive cases in each EU state over the past 14 days …

As coronavirus cases surge, summer holidays may be in doubt
3 years, 6 months ago

As coronavirus cases surge, summer holidays may be in doubt

Dutch News  

New European travel advice for the Netherlands may be disappointing because of the sudden rise in coronavirus cases, and this could mean Dutch holidaymakers having to quarantine abroad, health minister Hugo de Jonge has warned. The European centre for infectious diseases ECDC bases its assessment on the number of positive cases in each EU state over the past 14 days …

Netherlands could hear about new coronavirus measures tomorrow
3 years, 6 months ago

Netherlands could hear about new coronavirus measures tomorrow

NL Times  

Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said that new coronavirus restrictions could be announced in the Netherlands on Friday depending on the outcome of emergency advice from the Outbreak Management Team. The announcement was made minutes after public health agency RIVM disclosed that another 5,475 people tested positive for the coronavirus infection, the most announced in a single day since May …

Travelers can book free coronavirus test from today
3 years, 6 months ago

Travelers can book free coronavirus test from today

NL Times  

Travelers in the Netherlands can schedule a free coronavirus test starting from Wednesday. The website lists test companies that have been designated by the government to carry out free tests for travelers. The GGD said that a special hotline, 0800-5005, was available daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., but that it was "very busy" on the phones already a …

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