Corona and Democracy - Netherlands

Information on COVID-19 measures and democracy

• Measures of social distancing until at least 28 April. Measures are guidelines and include reduction of gatherings and visits
• "Intelligent Lockdown" tries to keep up normal life with higher social distancing, shops are still open that can provide social distcance, universities and schools, restaurants and sport clubs remain closed until 28 April
• Public fines are partly in place, depending on region and city (e.g. Amsterdam)
• Public gatherings are banned at least until 01 June
• People that come within 1,5 metres or generally come together with 3 or more people are being fined (390 euros) and get a criminal record. Drones and camera's with A.I. are being used for this purpose. This is an example of function creep.
• Land borders have limitations, because of measures in Germany and Belgium
• Most international flights are cancelled. Flights from Italy and Spain are completely cancelled

1 June:

• Groups up to 30 people are allowed to congregate again given social distancing measures are abided by
• Restaurants, cafés, and bars may host larger groups (up to 30 people) again
• Sports centers may also reopen as of July 1
• Travel restrictions have also been eased and will again be eased after June 15

• The Netherlands on lockdown: schools, cafes and sports clubs shut
• Coronavirus: Why Dutch lockdown may be a high-risk strategy
• https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/04/07/business/ap-virus-outbreak-the-latest.html?searchResultPosition=1
• Netherlands extends bans on public gatherings to June 1
• The approach to tackling coronavirus in the Netherlands
• Corona in Europa – Alle maatregelen per land 
• https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/tackling-new-coronavirus-in-the-netherlands/public-life

• Many trials are postponed (result, for example, parents are denied the right to see their kid)
• Many trials take place on phone, without a lawyer
• Right to demonstrate is seriously harmed. Almost no demonstrations take place

• Rechtbanken weer open, maar zorgen over zorgvuldigheid rechtspraak

• Dutch Government wants to use apps to keep track of movement and contact to infectious people, privacy concerns arise
• Plans to use a contact tracing app, that would harm privacy, Option to limit freedom of movement based on these apps is still open. However, Apple and Google seem to integrate Contact Tracing in their Operating Systems. That would mean opting out is only possible by not using a smarpthone or by seriously hacking your device, which is not a serious option for most people
• Professional medical secrecy is harmed (this is an ongoing battle for years already. Typical example of 'never waste a good crisis'

• Gov't plan to use apps to track Covid-19 raises privacy concerns
• Google Apple Contact Tracing (GACT): a wolf in sheep’s clothes.
• 'Corona opt-in’ zet medisch beroepsgeheim buitenspel
• Waarom corona-apps meer kwaad dan goed zullen doen

• Existing 'fake news' laws are continuing
• Laws for 'public administration' is temporarily cancelled. So documents that are used for designing policy can't be demanded by journalists or activists anymore, until the (government decides the) corona crisis is over. Advice of the medical experts advising the government is public, but notes of their internal discussions are not.

• Kabinet schuift Wob-verzoeken over corona op lange baan

• Most of the above are emergency measures. Soon, an emergency law is expected.
• It is expected to last until September 30. Parliament will decide and (expectedly) extend.
• The emergency law is of course expected to contain repressive powers to enforce physical distancing and prevent gatherings

• Spoedwet voor noodmaatregelen

• The current emergency measures are locally implemented by 'safety regions', so they differ per region

• Simple containment measures are not being implemented (for example, there is advise AGAINST mouth masks, because they expect people to not wear them properly. While based on 'our' RIVM, Belgium and Germany do advise to use them). This raises many questions. When simple, non-invasive measures / advise is given, lockdown measures that harm civil rights could be less strict to reach the same R0.