THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - MAY 06, 2020: Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte speaks during a press conference after a consultation with the Ministerial Crisis Management Committee (MCCb) about the emergency measures due to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus which causes the COVID-19 disease.- PHOTOGRAPH BY Robin Utrecht / Echoes Wire/ Barcroft Studios / Future Publishing (Photo credit should read Robin Utrecht / Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
The Dutch Safety Board has begun an independent investigation into the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis.
The probe will look at the preparations for a pandemic, crisis management, the measures taken and the phasing out of these measures, a statement said Thursday.
The Safety Board will also look at the effects of the coronavirus crisis on the safety of vulnerable people in the society, for example due to discontinuation of regular care or social services, the statement added.
Its aim is to draw lessons for “potential future epidemics.”
As of Wednesday, the Netherlands had 41,319 reported positive cases and 5,204 people reported dead, according to the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment.
