How Dutch false sense of security helped coronavirus spread

[Mike 03]

We're not the only country where leaders screwed up.

Source: Irish Times

Flawed advice that only those with symptoms can spread virus contributes to slow response

The position of Dutch authorities was that only people with symptoms could transmit coronavirus. It was repeated by the government, national and local health authorities, justifying a cascade of decisions that allowed the Netherlands to keep up a “business as usual” attitude even as the virus exponentially spread.

The problem was, it was wrong. As early as February 21st, Chinese doctors published a case of apparent asymptomatic transmission; German doctors wrote to the New England Journal of Medicine on March 5th to warn of a case near Munich. The World Health Organisation advises transmission without symptoms is possible.

Despite this the Dutch government and health authorities stuck to looser quarantine advice than other European countries up to the time of publishing, telling people who had travelled from China, outbreak spots in Italy, and Iran, that they need only self-quarantine if experiencing symptoms.

As well as being underpinned by a flawed assumption, the advice relies on people knowing whether they have symptoms or not. This is questionable: Chris Higgins, a GP in Australia, provoked an outcry after treating 70 patients while he had what he thought was the tail end of a mild cold, before he tested positive for Covid-19.

It’s also in stark contrast to the approach in the countries most successful at containing the virus, such as Taiwan and Singapore, where authorities drew on their experience of the Sars outbreak to implement strict travel checks and preventative quarantine before even registering a first confirmed case.

More at link: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/how-dutch-false-sense-of-security-helped-coronavirus-spread-1.4199027

The Netherlands has 503 confirmed cases and 5 deaths. Their infected total rose by 121 just today.

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/03/dutch-coronavirus-total-leaps-to-503-death-toll-rises-by-one/

[SunSeeker]

1. That's almost responsible compared to Trump's "head in the sand" strategy.

At least the Dutch are testing, so they readily learned their strategy sucked.

We're. Not. Testing.

[TheBlackAdder]

2. I wonder how Nigel feels?

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[CountAllVotes]

3. My good friend in Holland wrote me the other day

He told me not to worry as only sick old men are getting this.

That's right, ONLY SICK OLD MEN.

As for that guy that was 30 years old that fell and dropped dead within the hour, well ... look over there ... look over there ...

Only SICK OLD MEN!

[Mr. Ected]

4. To be honest, in this very red area of Georgia, that is ALL I have heard from the residents here

Only affects 60 and over. Just like the flu. Media-driven frenzy. Democrats trying to make Trump look bad.

If Family Feud had this as a question, those would be the top 4 answers in Trumpland.