Some advice to limit the spread of coronavirus are still in place. The vaccinations are working as they should and many people have built up resistance due to being infected with coronavirus. But coronavirus has not gone away. People will continue to get infected and become ill. The government is therefore monitoring the situation closely and will take action as appropriate, based on how the situation develops.
Advice to limit the spread of coronavirus
All coronavirus measures have been lifted. Following the advice below can help you and others avoid getting infected. And you’ll be helping to protect people with health concerns.
The advice continues to be: wash your hands, cough and sneeze into your elbow, stay home and do a test if you have symptoms, ensure a good flow of fresh air indoors and get vaccinated and boosted.
The virus can spread less effectively if you follow a number of hygiene rules:
Wash your hands thoroughly and often with soap and water. Always do this when you get home or visit someone.
Cough and sneeze into your elbow.
Don’t shake hands. Instead, give people a nod or bump fists or elbows.
Touch your face as little as possible.
Use paper tissues to blow your nose and discard them after use. Then wash your hands.
In crowded places you can protect yourself and others by wearing a face mask.
If you have symptoms associated with COVID-19, such as a cold, shortness of breath or a fever, avoid infecting other people. Do a self-test. To find out what you should do if you test positive, do the check (quarantainecheck.rijksoverheid.nl).
If you (self)test positive, you should self-isolate immediately. This means staying at home in a separate room from others in your household. This is to avoid them becoming infected too.
Certain groups of people should not rely on self-tests. You should have a PCR test done by the municipal health service (GGD) if:
you are a health or care worker;
you live in a nursing home or other healthcare institution, and you are over 70 or have severe immune system dysfunction;
you live at home and go to a daytime activity group, and you are over 70 or have severe immune system dysfunction;
A good flow of fresh air is important. It helps to limit the spread of the virus. Ensure that rooms are ventilated regularly at home, in shops, in bars and restaurants, at school and at work.
Always make sure there is a window or air vent open. Or make sure your ventilation system is working.
Air your home several times a day by opening windows and doors wide. Do the same before and after you receive visitors.
In shops, restaurants and bars, at school, at work and other places where there are a lot of people, keep windows open. Or make sure that the ventilation system is set so that enough outdoor air flows into the building.
Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others from becoming seriously ill due to coronavirus. So get your initial vaccinations and booster jab.
It is no longer mandatory to stay 1.5 metres from others. But this remains a safe distance. So give others enough space, including when visiting people and at work.
The government calls on employers to make agreements with staff that allow working from home to continue. The government asks that employers pay additional attention to staff with health concerns. They too must be able to work safely. Staff members that have symptoms should stay home and do a test. If they test positive, they should self-isolate and, if possible, work from home.
