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Dutch government will not advise public to wear masks - minister
From Reuters.
"The Dutch government on Wednesday said it will not advise the public to
wear masks to slow the spread of coronavirus, asserting that their
effectiveness has not been proven.
The decision was announced by Minister for Medical Care Tamara van
Ark after a review by the country’s National Institute for Health
(RIVM). The government will instead seek better adherence to social
distancing rules after a surge in coronavirus cases in the country this
week, Van Ark said at a press conference in The Hague.
“Because
from a medical perspective there is no proven effectiveness of masks,
the Cabinet has decided that there will be no national obligation for
wearing non-medical masks” Van Ark said.
The decision bucks the trend as many European countries have made masks mandatory in stores or crowded outdoor areas.
RIVM chief Jaap van Dissel said that the organization was aware of
studies that show masks help slow the spread of disease but it was not
convinced they will help during the current coronavirus outbreak in the
Netherlands.
He argued wearing masks incorrectly, together with
worse adherence to social distancing rules, could increase the risk of
transmitting the disease.
“So we think that if you’re going to use masks (in a public setting) ... then you must give good training for it,” he said.
Mask are currently required only on public transportation in the Netherlands and in airports.
The decision followed a meeting of health and government officials
after new coronavirus cases in the country rose to 1,329 in the past
week, an increase of more than a third.
Dutch cases have risen
steadily since July 1, when the government announced an easing of
lockdown measures to include restaurants and public gatherings if people
maintain a 1.5 meter (five foot) physical distance."
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