Cabinet: curfew is not over yet | Inland

On Tuesday, the cabinet will decide on additional restrictions for regions that cannot reduce their high number of infections enough, such as around Rotterdam, Dordrecht and, to a lesser extent, Twente. For the regions, the cabinet, in consultation with the security region, can decide to close all non-essential shops and secondary schools, and to prohibit being on the street between 10:00 PM and 4:00 AM.

With a declining number of infections – the evidence for this must be evident from the RIVM figures today and tomorrow – the cabinet could postpone this fundamental decision. Another option is to ‘prepare’ the regional package for when it appears necessary later.

Chances are small, principle remains

Several ministers estimate that it is unlikely that the curfew will come soon. According to sources in The Hague, the current corona figures give no reason to come up with additional measures on Tuesday. “So it remains a theoretical discussion for the time being,” says one involved. However, there will also be no decision in principle to exclude the measure now, according to insiders. Care ministers De Jonge and Van Ark in particular would like to keep the horse remedy on hand.

Parties in the House of Representatives who are very critical of the measure are also reluctant to rule out the measure in advance. The objection in the House is mainly that the cabinet does not provide sufficient reasons why such a severe measure is necessary. The RIVM cannot demonstrate what a curfew does directly to reduce the number of infections. According to RIVM boss Jaap van Dissel, it mainly emanates a ‘sense of urgency’.

Moreover, the House is suspicious of the cabinet’s freedom to impose a curfew without separate approval from the House of Representatives. Behind the scenes it seems like a solution to allow a few days for a debate after the announcement of the measure. In this way, the House of Representatives could call back the cabinet even before the curfew is in effect.

Tricky message

In the meantime, the cabinet is struggling with the message it should deliver on Tuesday and beyond. With a decreasing number of infections, the call for easing soon becomes apparent. “If you actually implement it, we will automatically come back to a third wave,” says an initiate. “While that was precisely the lesson of the first wave: stay cautious.”

This is what RIVM boss Jaap van Dissel said last week about the possible curfew.

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