Rutte about containing coronavirus:'No more shaking hands'

During a press conference Monday evening about the corona virus, President Mark Rutte said that another safety rule is being introduced to contain the virus.

“In addition to extra hand washing, sneezing and coughing in the elbows, there will be an extra measure:from now on we will no longer shake hands in the Netherlands.”

Read also: "This is how you use a mouth cap in the right way"

'It concerns us all'

Rutte called for a fight with all 17 million Dutch people and also said emphatically that he thinks this is everyone's fight. “It is not just up to the government, RIVM or the minister of medical care. It concerns all of us.”

Actions

In Brabant, the measures taken from last Friday will be extended until March 17. These measures are:

• Stay at home with mild complaints. According to Jaap van Dissel of the RIVM, mild complaints are acute respiratory complaints such as sneezing and coughing in combination with fever. If these complaints worsen, only contact your GP.
• Employers are also being asked to allow employees to work from home and to spread working hours.

About 40 percent of the infections are in Brabant.

More information can be found at RIVM.nl.