THE NETHERLANDS – Three more cases of coronavirus have been reported in Germany just over the Dutch border at Sittard but as yet the disease has not yet been identified in the Netherlands, health officials say. At least 50 people have gone through checks for the disease but have not been found to be carriers.
Dozens of Dutch nationals are in quarantine in Italy and in Tenerife where they had been holidaying during the winter half-term. And according to the Volkskrant, a Yemeni asylum seeker was held at Schiphol’s detention centre for several days because he had most recently been in one of the worst affected areas in China, where the disease originated.
Worldwide by Thursday at least 82,000 people have been infected and 2,800 have died. The impact of the virus is beginning to be felt on industry. Dutch flag carrier airline KLM said it is bringing in cost-cutting measures, including a temporary recruitment halt. Stock exchanges worldwide are also being hit.
The Amsterdam AEX blue chip index has fallen 40 points, or 7.4% over the past week. People who are worried about their own or other people’s health are being urged to check out the website of the public health institute RIVM which has information in Dutch and in English.
