| dc.description.abstract | In late December 2019, a new highly infectious coronavirus emerged in the Netherlands which infected 49,000 people. The Dutch government enforced an intelligent lockdown, which contained the enforcement of various restrictions to enhance social distancing, such as the closing of many hospitality locations (e.g. restaurants and cafes), the closing of public spaces and prohibition of gathering of groups larger than three persons. This lockdown had major effects on society. In this thesis, an attempt is made to answer the following research question: What are the effects of the corona measures on Dutch society in the spring of 2020, and what could this imply for governance during future pandemics? In order to curtail the coronavirus outbreak the Dutch government introduced a set of policy measures to reduce the transmission of the coronavirus. This thesis looked at how insights from behavioural public administration can be a valuable addition to existing policy measures. Additionally, the social distancing measures can have major effects on the mental health and well-being of individuals. The corona measures have also had effects on the environment. It is concluded that inclusion of environmental dynamics could assist pandemic governance. It is expected that climate change will affect infectious disease emergence and pandemics are expected to happen more often in the future.
The effects of the coronavirus outbreak in the Netherlands are complex and should be considered in policy for future pandemics. A more interdisciplinary team of experts could be a valuable addition for governing future pandemics or similar crises, by establishing more comprehensive policies. | |
