The outgoing cabinet confirms that a hard lockdown will start from 5 a.m. on Sunday morning, whereby only essential shops, such as drugstores and supermarkets, may still be open. All other shops, but also schools, catering and gyms, for example, must then keep their doors closed. The measure is intended to slow down the advance of the omikron variant. The lockdown will remain in effect until January 14.
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Outside, a maximum of two people are allowed to come together and inside no more than two visitors are allowed to visit at the same time. An exception is made at Christmas: then you can have four people visiting. It is also advised to visit a maximum of 1 time per day.
Schools and out-of-school care closed
Education is closing its doors. On January 3, it will be reconsidered whether the schools can open on January 10 according to schedule, that is the starting point. Nevertheless, the cabinet asks educational institutions to prepare for distance education in the first week after vacation. Exams and exams can continue, provided the measures are observed.
The out-of-school care must also close, with exceptions for children of people in crucial professions and locations for children from 0 to 4 years.
Downer for gyms, catering and culture sector
Gyms are also not allowed to remain open. It is, however, possible to exercise outside, the outdoor sports locations are open from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. For adults from 18 years old, sports are allowed outside with a maximum of 2 people at a distance of one and a half meters. Children and young people up to the age of 17 can play sports outside and play competitions.
All catering is closed. It is still possible to order and pick up. All non-medical contact professions, such as hairdressers and beauticians, are also closed. Medical contact professions, such as the physiotherapist, are open.
Theaters and museums are closing their doors and there is an event ban. Funerals with a maximum of 100 guests, weekly markets and professional sports competitions without an audience are excluded from this. Christmas markets are not allowed to continue.
Little is known about the omikron variant
The OMT has advised the outgoing cabinet to tighten up the measures, because little is known about the omikron variant. For example, it is not yet clear how sick it will make you.
Jaap van Dissel of the Outbreak Management Team (OMT) calls the situation worrying. “We assume that the variant will spread quickly. Between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, this variant will be dominant and the Delta variant will be supplanted,” says Van Dissel during the press conference on Saturday evening.
Van Dissel and outgoing minister Hugo de Jonge call on everyone to get a booster shot as soon as possible. Current vaccinations would not protect enough against the omikron variant.
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