Today, 1st December, after a long legal struggle to make the mondkapjes verplicht (face masks mandatory), the Dutch government lead by the glorious Mark Rutte had its own victory. Some month ago, when the numbers of infections were high (by the local standards), Rutte really believed that making face masks mandatory will help bringing the numbers down. Unfortunately, due to some legal complications, this rule couldn't be enforced, but more like advised. In a strange twist, the numbers started to go down, even if merely half of the population were actually wearing masks.
Still, the prime minister is a fine politician and he managed with a sleight of hand to take advantage of this: the numbers are not dropping as fast as they wished! The masks are mandatory now for the next 3 months (at least, even if there is the possibility to be withdrawn sooner), even if "the Dutch health institute RIVM which advises the government still maintains that face masks do not significantly lower the risk of infection".
Some snippets from the regulations:
Face masks have to be worn in all public indoor spaces, such as shops, museums, petrol stations, restaurants and bars (if open), theatres, cinemas and concert halls. Once people are seated at their table in the restaurant or in the theatre auditorium they can take the mask off but if they go to the toilet or leave it has to go back on.
Students, teachers and support staff will all have to wear a face mask when moving around the school building. The mask can come off during classes when everyone is seated but teachers who talk while walking around the classroom will have to wear one.
Hairdressers, driving instructors and nail stylists and others in the so-called contact professions will have to wear a face mask, as will their clients.
More on this subject in this article.
As you might notice, the golden rule is if you're moving, you're possible spreading the virus; if you're seating this stops and you're safe.
As a side note, yes, children are spreading the virus (and get infected) as anyone else.
Also, an open letter from medical Belgian doctors and health professionals, pointing out some interesting topics about the whole situation. This is a welcome debate in times where any discussion about the whole pandemic is heavily censored or fought against (in the situations where the opinions are not matching the governments points of view).
