Coronavirus: Humidity key to minimize virus transmission — study

Relative humidity "strongly influences" the spread of viruses among people indoors, especially in dry rooms. That's the conclusion reached by an Indian-German research team which evaluated 10 mostly recent international studies.

"The role of humidity seems to be extremely important to the airborne spreadof COVID-19 in indoor environments," according to the report, which was also based on findings derived from past tests with similar viruses, H1N1 for influenza and MERS-CoV.

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Coronavirus: Humidity key to minimize virus transmission — study | News | DW | 20.08.2020

The Netherlands: Some 400 heat deaths in Netherlands’ hottest week ever

Over 400 more people died in the Netherlands last week, during the hottest week since temperature measurements started, than in the weeks before, Statistics Netherlands reported on Friday.

The recorded coronavirus related deaths were low, so the excess mortality "is thus almost entirely attributable to the higher temperatures", the stats office said. The Netherlands was in a national heatwave from August 5 to 16, lasting a total of 13 days. On nine of those days, temperatures topped 30 degrees. For the first time ever, the Netherlands saw eight consecutive days with temps above 30.Last week was also the hottestweek ever measured in the Netherlands, with an average maximum temperature of 33.1 degrees Celsius.

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Some 400 heat deaths in Netherlands’ hottest week ever | NL Times

The Netherlans: Dutch economy expected to grow again next year, Covid-19 effects to linger

The Dutch economy will  shrink by 5.1 percent this year, but recovery will start at the end of the year and in 2021 the economy will grow b3.2 percent, according to central planning office CPB's draft-macroeconomic foresight studies. The effects of the Covid-19 crisis will linger, however, with unemployment rising to 7 percent next year.

The CPB expects all parts of the economy to recover somewhat nextyear. Household consumption will decrease by 5.9 percent this year, and increase by 4.1 percent next year. Investments will go from -7.5 percent his year, to plus 4.4 percent next year. Exports will decrease by 5.2 percent this year, but increase by 4.7 percent next year, and imports will go from -3.7 percent this year to plus 5.4 percent in 2021. Government consumption is the only factor that won't see a decrease this year. It is expected to increase by 2.9 percent this year and by 2.0
percent next year.

CPB director Pieter Hasekamp told NOS that the coronavirus blow to the Dutch economy is "unprecedentedly hard" and "largely yet to befelt". "The corona crisis also has major consequences or things that affect the quality of life: we miss celebrating a wedding oranniversary, the theater and concert stages are empty, and there are serious concerns about loneliness in nursing homes."

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Dutch economy expected to grow again next year, Covid-19 effects to linger | NL Times

The Netherlands:A rise in Covid-19 infections triggers stricter rules in the Netherlands

The number of new coronavirus infections in the Netherlands remainshigh, despite the measures being tightened up earlier this month. Forthis reason, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister Hugo de Jonge announced new restrictions at a press conference held on 18 August 2020.

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A rise in Covid-19 infections triggers stricter rules in the Netherlands | TheMayor.EU

EU Economy: As eurozone records 3.8% slump ECB chief warns of worse to come

Former ECB president Mario Draghi claimed last year that the majority in favour of further loosening was so large that it was unnecessary even to count the votes. Never mind that the countries opposing the decision hold 56% of the ECB’s paid-in equity capital and account for 60% of eurozone output. Counting their compatriots on the ECB governing council, however, they have only seven out of 25 potential votes (subject to a rotating limitation). Draghi did have a majority, then, but it represented a very clear minority of the ECB’s liable capital. This raises considerable concerns about the governing council’s decision-making process.

Todays head of the ECB Christine Lagarde has warned that the eurozone could be on course for a 15% collapse in output in the second quarter as evidence of the economic toll caused by Covid-19 pandemic started to emerge, with France and Italy falling into recession.

After news that the 19-nation monetary union area had contracted a record 3.8% in the first three months of 2020, Christine Lagarde said much worse was possible in the April to June period, when the impact of lockdown restrictions would be most severe.

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As eurozone records 3.8% slump ECB chief warns of worse to come

The Netherlands: Groningen's Winsum is voted the Netherlands' prettiest village - DutchNews.nl

The village of Winsum
in the north of Groningen province has been named prettiest village in
the Netherlands by motoring organisation ANWB.

Read more at DutchNews.nl:

The village of Winsum
in the north of Groningen province has been named prettiest village in
the Netherlands by motoring organisation ANWB.

Read more at DutchNews.nl:

The village of Winsum
in the north of Groningen province has been named prettiest village in
the Netherlands by motoring organisation ANWB.

Read more at DutchNews.nl:

Winsum was voted the Netherlands prettiest village of the year by the Dutch tourism organisation ANWB

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Groningen's Winsum is voted the Netherlands' prettiest village - DutchNews.nl

The Netherlands: As coronavirus cases rise, Paris, Madrid and Ibiza are added to Dutch 'no go list'

The Netherlands has placed Paris, Ibiza, Madrid and Brussels on its code orange list of places where all but essential travel is advised against, because of the increase in coronavirus cases.

The French, Spanish and Belgian capitals have been added to the orange list, as have the Balearic islands (include Majorca and Ibiza), and the Spanish provinces of Burgos, Salamanca, Almeria and Navarra.

The French Bouches-du-Rhone region, close to Aix en Provence and Marseille, is also out of bounds.

The ministry says all but essential travel to these places should be avoided and anyone returning to the Netherlands from one of them should go in to quarantine for 14 days. Britain has also been added to the code orange list, but travellers will not have to quarantine on their return to the Netherlands.

Travel advice to the UK has been tightened up as a warning, because the British have introduced quarantine requirements for people from the Netherlands, the foreign ministry said.

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As coronavirus cases rise, Paris, Madrid and Ibiza are added to Dutch 'no go list' - DutchNews.nl