Rutte is tempering expectations about relaxation of measures
Teachers' concerns about a responsible reopening of schools resonated in the House of Representatives this afternoon. During a debate about the corona crisis, Prime Minister Mark Rutte did not anticipate the decision that his cabinet will take on education next week. "Really, I just don't know yet."
Picture: House of Representatives
As is known, the cabinet will take a decision next week on the measures that have been announced until 28 April. Then education will get an answer to the pressing question of whether or not schools will reopen after the May holidays, partially or not. This decision depends, among other things, on research that RIVM is currently conducting into the risk of infection between children and between children and adults. The investigation has been delayed and therefore finished later than originally intended.
“We hope to have that before May 1, the RIVM boss hopes to have insights earlier. We will see whether we can make a decision about schools next week based on these initial insights. We will then see what is on the table at the time. There is nothing more to say about that now, ”says Rutte.
The prime minister did, however, expressly take the opportunity to temper expectations. “I would like to warn against the thought that things are going so well now that we will probably announce next week that a lot of things will be relaxed the following week. I am not at all very happy about the figures, ”said Rutte, who referred to, among other things, the number of corona patients in intensive care. “I sincerely hope that we can say: There is something more possible than now. But we may also have to come to the conclusion that the entire package will continue like this. ”
Guidelines
Teachers are eager to restart schools, but at the same time are concerned about it, according to a survey that the AOb this week brought out. "Safe booting is not easy," said AObchairman Eugenie Stolk. “A division from one class to three or four groups is physically almost impossible. We must get clear guidelines that are feasible. ”
Can the government promise that teachers and school leaders will also be involved?
As far as coalition party D66 is concerned, schools will reopen as soon as possible if it is safe to do so, said party leader Rob Jetten during the debate. 'Can the cabinet promise that teachers and school leaders will also be involved and not just the RIVM,' Jetten asked. PvdA party leader Lodewijk Asscher also asked Rutte to expand the circle of advisers.
Tipping moment
In the House of Representatives, partly fueled by cautiously optimistic figures about the slowed down spread of the virus, there were already talks here and there about a turning point. The parties asked how the cabinet is preparing for an exit strategy, a gradual phasing out of the measures.
CDA and GroenLinks wanted to know whether the cabinet would also consider mouth masks and alternative protective materials in the event of a possible reopening of schools. The cabinet can take this into account when acquiring these materials, suggested GroenLinks leader Jesse Klaver.
The use of the limited stock of face masks is currently reserved for healthcare workers. Rutte suggested that for contact professions - he mentioned the hairdresser as an example - a form of mouth protection could be an option in the future because it is impossible to observe a distance of one and a half meters at the hairdresser anyway.
What you do have to do is think about the phase in which it becomes possible to expand something: if space is created, how will that happen?
Rutte sees nothing else in the Outbreak Management Team, which advises the cabinet on how to tackle the crisis, to be expanded with new experts, such as behavioral experts. "What you have to do is think about the phase in which it becomes possible to expand something: if space is created, how will it work?" Decisions about the exit strategy are a political consideration, said Rutte, and are taken on the basis of medical scientific advice.
