News | RIVM

GPs feel more personalised care for chronically ill patients was useful during coronavirus pandemic

During the coronavirus pandemic, GPs had to take over some of the tasks of hospitals and mental healthcare providers.

Post-COVID less common after Omicron infection

After a SARS-CoV-2 infection involving Omicron, 1 in 10 people still have symptoms three months later. This is almost 2 times lower than after an infection involving the Delta variant. This is evident from new results of the LongCOVID study at RIVM. There is variation in the frequency of specific post-COVID symptoms after an infection with the Omicron or Delta variant.

Vrouw op een bankje in een park

COVID-19 less severe due to Omicron variants, vaccinations and previous infections

The consequences of infections involving the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 are decreasing. This is because nearly everyone in the Netherlands has built up immunity to COVID-19 as a result of vaccination and/or previous infection, and because the current Omicron variants are less likely to cause serious illness.

Rioolwateronderzoek

Young people less likely to contact GP for mental health problems

The percentage of young people who report having mental health problems has hardly decreased since the last lockdown (in early 2022).

hand op schouder

RSV summer peak possibly caused by declining antibodies during COVID-19 pandemic

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common virus that causes cold symptoms. In particularly, young children and vulnerable older people are more likely to become seriously ill if they get it.

Some disinfection methods against the coronavirus may be unsafe

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, new and additional disinfection methods have become available. Because not all of these products fall under the same legislation, there are some on the market today whose efficacy and safety have not been evaluated by an independent body.

No new SARS-CoV-2 variants discovered in wastewater on aircraft from China

Wastewater on aircraft from China has not been found to contain any new variants of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 so far. These findings are from several tests performed by RIVM. However, the wastewater was found to contain coronavirus particles.

People working from home more likely to have health problems

People who worked from home during the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to have physical complaints than people working on location (location workers). Examples included upper back pain, lower back pain, and pain in arms, neck and/or shoulders. These findings are from RIVM research.

Details of proposed European PFAS ban released

Today, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published details of a proposed ban on the production, use, sale and import of some 10,000 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Proposed European PFAS ban officially submitted

The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway today took the first formal step towards a European ban on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by jointly submitting a restriction proposal to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).