{"id":124115,"date":"2021-03-09T15:16:11","date_gmt":"2021-03-09T14:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=124115"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:25:27","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:25:27","slug":"higher-education-faces-at-least-three-more-weeks-of-lockdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2021\/03\/09\/higher-education-faces-at-least-three-more-weeks-of-lockdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Higher education faces at least three more weeks of lockdown"},"content":{"rendered":"

By the beginning of summer, everyone ‘who wants it’ will be vaccinated at least once, Prime Minister Rutte announced last night. \u201cThat will be the time when we can finally take significant steps in the direction of normal life.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTessa Hofland<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

But we\u2019re not there yet. The number of new cases of Covid-19 is stable, but too high. That\u2019s the reason the government doesn\u2019t think it\u2019s a good idea to open up yet. At the end of March this may perhaps be possible, including re-opening the outdoor caf\u00e9s.<\/p>\n

Easter<\/h2>

\u201cThat means that in the week before Easter Sunday higher education will be able to start up again\u201d, De Jonge said. \u201cBy allowing students to attend classes one day a week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Currently students are only allowed on campus for labs and exams. \u2018Vulnerable students\u2019 can also visit their university of applied sciences or university for guidance counselling.<\/p>\n

De Jonge sounded optimistic. He sees rapid tests as offering possibilities for making campuses accessible. \u201cThat\u2019s because with rapid testing we can make education safer and prevent more people from catching the virus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Home testing<\/h2>

Home testing will also help, he expects. Moreover, he\u2019s enthusiastic about a new corona check app, which you can use to show that you\u2019ve had a recent negative corona test and won\u2019t infect others.<\/p>\n

The app may also be capable of showing a \u2018green tick mark\u2019 if someone has been vaccinated, but that will only be possible when we know if those who have been given the vaccine are really no longer infectious. In any case, the outgoing government does not want to launch \u2018any direct or indirect vaccination requirement\u2019.<\/p>\n

Rapid tests and other measures to make in-person teaching safe are currently being piloted in higher education. The question remains how quickly these pilots will deliver reliable results.<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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