Covid-19: Health restrictions are making a comeback in the Netherlands

Published on : 11/12/2021 – 21:59

To deal with a record number of Covid-19 cases, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced, Friday, November 12, the reintroduction of a series of health restrictions, affecting in particular the restaurant sector.

Mark Rutte at a press conference in The Hague called the new round of measures “a big blow of a few weeks, because the virus is everywhere, all over the country, in all sectors and at all ages”.

Protesters protested in The Hague as the measures were announced, which go into effect on Saturday evening and will run for at least three weeks.

On the sidelines of the rally, around 200 people clashed with riot police and mounted police outside the Ministry of Justice and Security, where the Prime Minister’s press conference was being held.

“Fortunately, the vast majority (of the population) is vaccinated, otherwise the misery in hospitals would be incalculable at this time,” said Mark Rutte.

Bars, restaurants and essential stores such as supermarkets will have to close at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. GMT) and non-essential stores at 6 p.m.

Dutch citizens are called upon not to accommodate more than four people in their homes and to telework, “unless this is really not possible,” said Mark Rutte.

Public protests are cut and football matches will be played behind closed doors, including the World Cup qualifier between the Netherlands and Norway next week.

However, schools remain open and outings outside the home authorized.

The measures had been described by the government as “partial containment” ahead of the press conference, according to local media.

82% of people vaccinated

The government is also preparing to restrict access to dining and leisure facilities after the three-week period only to people vaccinated or cured of Covid, and no longer to those people with a negative test.

The new restrictions are politically sensitive, with thousands demonstrating in The Hague on Sunday after the government announced the reintroduction of masks in some public spaces.

The Netherlands announced 16,364 new cases of Covid in the past 24 hours on Thursday, breaking the previous record of 12,997 cases set in December 2020.

>> To read: Covid-19: the fourth wave in Germany, a warning for the rest of Europe?

The country of 17 million people has recorded 2.2 million cases and 18,612 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Hospitals have warned they will not be able to overwinter under current conditions.

The peak of Covid comes despite the fact that 82% of Dutch people over the age of 12 have been fully vaccinated.

Unvaccinated people account for most intensive care cases (69%) and hospital admissions (55%), but declining vaccine effectiveness, especially in the elderly, was also implicated.

The Dutch government has announced that the vaccine booster campaign will start in December.

With AFP