In the Netherlands called not to absoluticize the importance of medical masks

Speaking during a debate in the lower house of the Netherlands parliament over Coronacrisis, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said medical masks were not an alternative to a one-and-a-half-metre society. Parliamentary factions invited the authorities of the country to follow the example of neighbouring States and to recommend to the population to wear masks in public places. Rutte stated that such a measure could play a role in easing quarantine measures, but called for not absolutising the meaning of masks. Rutte also warned of inflated expectations related to possible easing of quarantine measures. Recent data show a decrease in the number of coronapacients in intensive care. However, according to Rutte, he is not yet pleased with quantitative data on the spread of coronavirus. Rutte stated that he was not optimistic about the possible situation after 28 April, when the quarantine measures ended. He recalled that mortality from coronavirus remained high. However, he confirmed that the Government was working on a strategy to exit quarantine measures. On 21 April, the Government should decide on a possible extension of quarantine measures. The use of health masks by the population is seen as a possible measure to mitigate quarantine measures. However, the government fears the masks could cause a sense of false security. Priority in the fight against the spread of the virus continues to be given to measures such as the observance of a distance of 1.5 meters, careful washing of hands and home quarantine in case of symptoms of coronavirus.