Health Minister Hugo de Jonge has asked all travellers to get tested for coronavirus when they return to the Netherlands.
De Jonge highlighted the fact that the National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM) has reported holidays as a key cause of the spread of COVID-19 in the Netherlands at the moment, and raised concerns about the potential spread of the more contagious Delta variant. He also reminded the public that, last year, the second coronavirus wave was brought about by thousands of people returning to the Netherlands from holidays across Europe.
He would like to avoid this happening again in the autumn, and hopes to prevent people “bringing coronavirus back in their suitcases.” He, therefore, has asked all travellers to carry out a self-test when they return home to the Netherlands. “Let’s prevent the fourth wave from starting now,” he said.
Young people are especially invited to visit one of their local GGD test centres after returning from holiday. The Dutch government would also like to distribute self-tests to every household to ensure people are able to test themselves without any hassle or cost.
De Jonge’s plea also applies to those who have already been (fully) vaccinated, and to those returning from yellow and green coded countries.