Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister Hugo de Jonge (Public Health) gave a press conference on Monday evening about the increasing number of positive corona tests in the Netherlands, in which they announced new national measures. In this article we answer the most frequently asked questions that came in on our response platform NUjij.
Does the mouth masks advice for shops apply nationally or only to the three major cities?
People who shop in four major cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Eindhoven) are provisionally asked to wear a face mask. This is provisional, so not a national measure.
Can you sit at a table in a restaurant with five people from the same household?
That is allowed. Groups in the catering industry may consist of a maximum of four people, unless it concerns a household. A household of five people is therefore allowed to sit together at one table in a restaurant. This applies both indoors and on a terrace.
What is changing for the event industry? Does the unlimited number of visitors still apply to outdoor events?
The rule for buildings is that a maximum of thirty visitors may be present. However, the chairman of a security region can make an exception for a large hall of a cultural institution that adheres to the guidelines. This applies, for example, to concert halls, theaters and cinemas.
For outdoor events, a maximum of 40 visitors may be present. There is therefore no longer any question of an unlimited number of visitors.
No upper limit of thirty visitors applies to so-called transfer locations, places where the public moves through a building. Think of museums, for example. There, the maximum depends on the size of the location. However, visitors must reserve a time slot in advance.
What is the consequence of the restriction of travel movements for higher education?
The government’s advice is to limit the number of travel movements as much as possible. This does not mean that students are no longer allowed to follow education on location. If it is not necessary to be on location, for example to work independently on an assignment, it can be considered to stay at home.
Are parents not also allowed to attend sports matches of children under the age of twelve?
No, this is not allowed for the time being. Prime Minister Rutte said during the press conference that parents must drop their children off at the gates because of the risk that the parents present will infect each other.
What is the concrete change in contact professions?
People with a contact profession must now ask their customers to register. This means that customers are asked to leave contact details, so that any source and contact investigation can be carried out more easily.
What about the closing times for takeaway restaurants?
They have to close at 02:00 at the latest. In addition, take-aways are no longer allowed to sell alcohol after 10 p.m.
How about visiting swimming pools or saunas?
You are still allowed to visit a swimming pool or sauna. However, a maximum of four people may visit one of these locations together, unless they are part of the same household. There is also an upper limit of thirty visitors or less (depending on the size of the building). In addition, visitors must keep a distance of 1.5 meters from each other, and visitors must reserve a time slot in advance.
Is working from home also mandatory if you have a lot of space in the office with a few colleagues who are left and can easily keep 5 meters away?
Everyone has to work from home for the next three weeks, unless there is really no other option. This applies to all companies where working from home is possible. Employers are asked to take their responsibility and therefore not to organize meetings and other activities in the office. Team outings are also out of the question for the time being.
Can I stay in a recreation park with a group of more than ten people?
In most cases, this is not allowed for the time being. No more than four people may congregate on the street and in buildings other than your own home. This does not apply to people who belong to the same household. This also excludes children up to the age of twelve.
What new measures apply to theaters?
For theaters, too, a maximum of thirty people may be present at the same time. However, the chairman of a security region can make an exception for a cultural institution that adheres to the guidelines.
Are gyms allowed to stay open if a maximum of thirty people are present at the same time for sports?
Yes, that is allowed, as long as the gym ensures that measures are taken that make it possible to keep a distance of 1.5 meters from each other and that they adhere to the hygienic regulations.
What about religious gatherings?
Religious gatherings do not allow a maximum number of people to be together. However, a distance between them must be kept 1.5 meters. There are also exceptions for funerals, demonstrations and schools.
What exactly are the rules in a restaurant?
Restaurants, like cafes, must close their doors at 9 p.m. to new visitors. They must be completely closed no later than an hour later, at 10 p.m. This means that the closing times of restaurants will be brought forward to no later than 10 p.m.
Is there a negative travel advice now for Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam?
There is no negative travel advice for the three major cities. On a list of the new national measures that was leaked earlier on Monday, this was mentioned as a possible measure, but after consultation with the security regions, the cabinet will not introduce this measure.
Nevertheless, the advice is for all Dutch people to “limit the number of travel movements as much as possible”, but that is not an obligation. Rutte: “That means, for example, if you go on holiday during the autumn holidays, fine if you go to your mobile home or your house or a hotel somewhere in the Netherlands. But don’t drive back and forth. Stay there and don’t see if the potatoes are at home. were cheaper. But stay there and buy your food there. “
The prime minister also emphasized: “When you go shopping, make sure that shopping is really for the practical necessity, namely buying things. And don’t go to Albert Heijn with the whole family.”
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