Mouth masks compulsory in schools
The cabinet is extending the masking obligation to secondary, higher and secondary vocational education. The schools are closing? “We shouldn't do that anymore,” said Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge after the press conference tonight.
Picture: National government
The tone at the press conference was serious: the number of covid infections has more than doubled in two weeks. And so the measures are further tightened. Minister De Jonge of Public Health speaks of a 'partial lockdown'. Part of this is a masking obligation in secondary education, MBO and higher education. "In between classes or lectures and when you walk around the library or the canteen, mouth masks will soon be mandatory," said Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Complicated
"In practice, many schools were already working on the face masks and everyone tries to teach as much as possible in accordance with the guidelines," responds AObchairman Eugenie Stolk. “Mandatory or not: it is extremely complicated.”
There will be an obligation as soon as possible
“If there is a need to tighten it up, we go from one urgent advice to an obligation," said Rutte. "That is legally complicated, that is not easily arranged, but there will be an obligation as soon as possible. It is a long-running discussion that we want to settle once and for all.” The extent to which face masks prevent further spread of the virus remains a matter of debate. Rutte: “But it does 'something' anyway and all 'somethings' added together are now helpful.”
'We have seen: we really shouldn't close the schools'
“Education has to do its very best to continue,” says AObchairman Stolk. "Everyone in education tries to make the best of it." The 'partial lockdown' will last at least four weeks. The balance will be drawn up in two weeks. "If there is no improvement, a complete lockdown may be inevitable," warned Minister De Jonge. Will the schools also close? "We have seen: we really shouldn't close the schools." So he wants to "cut corners from the March lockdown." The government finds the social damage of closing schools too great.
Read also 'AOb wants priority for rapid tests'
