How does the coronavirus affect Groningen?

Coronavirus met engelse vlag

The coronavirus, which is also known as COVID-19, was discovered in China in December 2019. Most people who show symptoms have a fever, a cough, and breathing difficulties. Over the past few months, the virus has spread worldwide and cases have also been reported in the Netherlands. Measures were subsequently taken in the Netherlands, and therefore in the Groningen province as well, to stem the further spread of the virus.

Voor de Nederlandse tekst klik hier. 

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Coronavirus measures

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What you can do to stop the spread

On the website of the Community Health Service (GGD), you will find details of what you can do to stop the spread of coronavirus.

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I’m showing symptoms, what should I do?

Check the website of the Community Health Service (GGD) for details of what you can do when you have a cold.

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Planning a trip?

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection (RIVM) currently both advise against all international travel unless it is strictly necessary. You can find travel advice here.

Click here for the latest foreign travel advice.

If you live, work, or go to school in Germany, you should also be aware of the measures that are in place on the other side of the border. We regularly liaise with crisis teams operating in the German districts (Landkreisen) that border on our province.

If you have already booked a trip and want to cancel it, contact the tour operator where you booked your holiday.

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Help for businesses

The Dutch government is taking a series of measures to help businesses that are facing serious challenges due to the coronavirus outbreak. Measures include a scheme to facilitate the reduction of working hours, the Tax Administration allowing businesses to postpone tax payments, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy extending the loan guarantee scheme for SMEs. These measures make borrowing money easier for businesses in industries such as hospitality and travel that are suffering because customers stay away or they have had to close temporarily. Businesses can get further details on the possibilities at Rijksoverheid.nl-site.

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Put up our posters or graphics

Whenever you go out for some fresh air or to do the shopping, make sure you maintain a distance of at least 1.5 metres from other people. Help spread the word! Print out our poster and put it up where people can see it, such as in your window, so as to raise awareness of the importance of keeping a physical distance of 1.5 metres! Do it for yourself and for your community.

Keep your distance poster with the measures explained. You can also find them on rijksoverheid.nl.

Download the posters

Emergency decree

You will find the (only in Dutch) new emergency decree that was adopted and came into effect recently on our Dutch page. You can click here to go directly to the page.

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Local authority contact details for questions about specifics or violation of measures

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Boat acces

Questions about access by boat in the province? It is best to consult the relevant province for the latest state of affairs.

Need help or support?

In many communities up and down our province, residents and volunteers are taking all kinds of initiatives. Offering to do the shopping for someone, getting someone’s prescription filled, cooking meals for people, people checking in with each other to see how they are doing and whether they need help, special phone numbers and WhatsApp groups that allow locals to trade things, and special advisory posters.

Could you also do with some extra help? Check www.zorgzamedorpengroningen.nl for a list of all the help available. Alternatively, ask your local authority who you can turn to with your specific need.

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Local authorities briefed on the fight against coronavirus in the region

Our chairman Koen Schuiling writes to all local authorities in the Groningen province to keep them up to date on the fight against the coronavirus in our province. In this letter, he reports on how the scale-up to GRIP-4 went, explains what this means for certain competencies and which emergency decrees apply in this respect, outlines the current crisis response, and provides other information.

You can find the letters on our dutch page.

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More information?

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This post is also available in: Nederlands (Dutch)