At the press conference on April 13, Health Minister Hugo De Jonge outlined a five-step plan that should see the Netherlands come out of lockdown in time for the summer.
Over the past year, the Dutch government have presented a range of roadmaps for the handling of coronavirus, detailing either how and when further restrictions would be introduced or providing some guidance on when measures can eventually be lifted.
The latest plan was presented at Tuesday’s press conference, and will come into effect on April 28 at the earliest (dates listed are estimations based on the predicted progression of the virus). Until all measures are lifted, three basic rules will remain in place:
The plan is wholly dependent on the number of hospital admissions, the coronavirus vaccination campaign, and the GGD’s testing capacity. The government hopes that by May 11, there should “only” be around 1.500 coronavirus patients in hospital, and by July 7 hospital admissions should be well below 1.000. By then, everyone who wants to be vaccinated would also have received at least one dose.
These figures and uncertainties mean that the plan is by no means set in stone. “It is not a promise. But if it is possible, this is how it could be done,” De Jonge said on Tuesday. More details about each stage of lifting lockdown will be revealed at press conferences over the coming months. Interestingly, the plan doesn’t include any mention of international travel - decisions on travel advice will be taken separately.