LIVE | Grapperhaus: longer lockdown ‘dirty setback’ for boas | Inland

This article will be updated throughout the day.

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Justice minister Ferd Grapperhaus is disappointed that the cabinet decides to postpone easing for at least another week. Especially in view of the pressure on enforcers, he would have liked fewer rules, but the hospital figures do not allow that yet, he says. “Of course I stand up for the police and boas and last week was really a nasty setback.”

The outgoing minister again appeals to the patience of the Dutch. “Just keep going,” he says. The fact that people are “impatient and tired” also affects police officers and extraordinary investigators (boas). “It is a thankless task in many ways. These people are working their way around to do their normal work, for normal security and public order. ”

Grapperhaus also emphasizes “that the peak of hospital pressure – because that’s what it’s all about – is tangibly in sight.” Just like his colleagues in the cabinet, he calls on people to “persevere for a while. We’ve been doing it for 15 months, huh. ”

People would do well to walk past “the usual park in your city” even on sunny days. If necessary, go “into the meadow” a few kilometers outside the city, advises Grapperhaus.

11.30am Merkel defends curfew plans

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has defended her plans for a controversial curfew in parliament. She hopes that parliamentarians will pass a new law that will allow her to introduce this measure and other corona restrictions in states with many infections.

Merkel wants to introduce a curfew in places where the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants over a period of seven days is above a hundred, but has been criticized a lot. The Chancellor emphasized that this measure already applies in a number of federal states. According to her, a curfew between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. should help reduce the number of infections.

“The point is to reduce evening journeys and the use of local public transportation,” Merkel said. She pointed out that curfew is not a panacea, but it can have an effect when combined with other measures, and that the benefits outweigh the harms.

11.00 Artis and other attractions open doors for (tested) visitors

In the coming days, the animals in Artis will be visited again and enthusiasts can attend a concert in the Concertgebouw. The Amsterdam locations participate in Testing for access on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, where people can enter on presentation of a negative corona test.

The animal park can accommodate 5000 visitors per day. They reserve a ticket for a time slot. Visitors must keep a distance of 1.5 meters in the park and wear a mouth mask in indoor areas. Earlier this week, Ouwehands Zoo in Rhenen welcomed people for admission as part of Testing.

Images of the test trip to Rhodes, Greece:

The concerts by the Concertgebouw Orchestra, which plays music by Schumann and Mozart, on Friday evenings and by the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, which will be performing with Brahms and Diepenbrock, on Sunday morning were sold out within ten minutes. On Saturday, the Groot Omroepkoor will follow in the music temple with the NTR Saturday Matinee, which will perform works by Duruflé and Saint-Saëns. The world premiere of a specially composed work by the Dutch composer Bart Visman can also be heard.

The room can accommodate 425 interested parties. Not only the visitors, but also all musicians and employees are tested.

10.15 Radio 538 warns against scammers who offer Oranjefeest tickets

Radio 538 warns against scammers who offer tickets for the big Orange Party that takes place in Breda on Saturday, April 24. “Our tickets are personalized and therefore non-transferable,” emphasizes a spokesman on Friday.

The only official sales channels for tickets for the so-called 538 Orange Day, which is part of Fieldlabs, are 538.nl and Vakantieveilingen. “All tickets on 538.nl are now sold out,” said the spokeswoman. “Only Friday tickets will be auctioned at Holiday auctions, the proceeds of which will go entirely to the Food Bank.” These cards seem to be selling for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

10.00 More pressure on debt counseling in Amsterdam due to corona crisis

The number of reports for debt counseling in Amsterdam increased last year due to the corona crisis. The municipality of Amsterdam reports this on the basis of the Annual Report Schuldhulpverlening 2020.

The number of applications for debt counseling rose by 12 percent in 2020 compared to a year earlier. Social counselors, whom Amsterdammers often report first when they run into problems, also got busier. There, applications rose by 16 percent. Debt problems increased in particular in the North, New West and Southeast districts.

Due to the corona crisis, inequality has grown, says Alderman Marjolein Moorman (poverty). “The tragic thing is that vulnerable Amsterdammers are hit hardest in the corona crisis. Often these are people in an insecure position, such as young people, flex workers and self-employed workers, who run into problems due to declining income. ”

06.30 Bonaire starts to relax carefully

On Bonaire, a cautious start is made to relax the corona measures. Lieutenant Governor Edison Rijna announced on Thursday that the risk level 6 will be lowered to 5. According to Rijna Bonaire is not there yet and there is still a lot to be vaccinated before further relaxation can be done. From Friday this is now also possible without an appointment. The new risk level applies until April 29.

There will be a curfew for the next two weeks (between 9:00 PM and 4:00 AM) and no alcohol should be consumed in public areas. The catering industry is also still not allowed to receive visitors. The rules for receiving visitors at home have been relaxed a bit and more sports are allowed outside. From Friday, people can also pick up take-away meals from restaurants again and the staff no longer have to deliver them to the car.

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