Universities in the Netherlands are closely monitoring the situation surrounding the coronavirus. The universities are currently following the health-related advice of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the travel advice issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If you have specific questions about the latest updates on the situation, please contact your university. Many universities also have information available on the Internet or the intranet.

The RIVM recommends contacting your GP or local Municipal Health Service (GGD) if you have a fever with respiratory symptoms (e.g. coughing or shortness of breath). This advice also applies to mild symptoms, especially if you have been to a risk area (China, Singapore, South Korea, Iran and Northern Italy) or have come into contact with someone who has the coronavirus in the past two weeks. The RIVM and the GGD point out that it is important that you do not go to your GP’s office without contacting someone at the office first.

Staff and students from affected areas do not need to stay at home as a preventive measure. This is not medically necessary at this time. However, it is a good idea for staff and students to be informed about what they should do if they are experiencing (mild) health problems. This text will be updated as and when new advice is issued by the RIVM.

On Friday 28 February, the VSNU informed the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science that the lack of face masks could impact clinical education (e.g. at faculties of medicine and in dentistry programmes).

For further information, please refer to the information provided by the Dutch government (English information can be found here) and the coronavirus FAQs for education and for employers and employees. We also have additional Q&As  (English version will soon follow) or the universities.

For more information from the VSNU, please contact spokesperson Bart Pierik (pierik@vsnu.nl, 06 50 48 30 17) or policy adviser Wesley Boer (boer@vsnu.nl, 06 13 09 44 83).