Curfew falls wrong: ‘Reminds us of our darkest times’ | Inland

On Tuesday, the cabinet announced additional measures for the next two weeks. For example, the group size goes outside to a maximum of 2 people, which is also the maximum number of guests that you can still receive at home per day. And ‘flow-through locations’ such as museums, libraries, theaters and swimming pools must be closed.

For regional hot spots, the cabinet is keeping extra measures to hand. If the situation there does not improve, the cabinet is considering imposing a curfew and closing secondary schools and shops. Especially the regions around Rotterdam, Dordrecht and Twente are now in dire straits in terms of corona infections. The curfew meets with aversion in the Chamber. D66’er Jetten has his doubts about a curfew: “Why is a curfew a proportional measure and can it be enforced?”

During the debate, Rutte was unable to properly demonstrate what the direct effect of a curfew would be on the number of infections. “But it certainly has an indirect effect.” It does not convince. “We are dealing here with a cabinet that wants to restrict its population for six hours a day and cannot really substantiate why,” said Jetten. PVV leader Wilders also wants to express his “horror” in the room: “Surely it cannot be the case that you, as a liberal, forbid people to take to the streets after 10 pm?”

Ikea and Primark

Jetten says he struggles with, but understands, the fact that extra measures are needed. He doubts whether the cabinet is now doing the right extra step. Because why do ‘Ikea ​​and Primark’ stay open, while museums and cinemas have to close, he wonders. GL party leader Klaver also wonders why the busy shops are still open.

“The retail trade will remain open,” Rutte answers, provided that the regular measures, such as 1.5 meters, can be met.

D66, GL and PvdA also ask the cabinet for perspective and a long-term approach. “I want to know what is being done now, when the infections are hopefully lower again, to contain the virus,” said PvdA party leader Asscher. “Then the testing, tracing and isolation must be in order.”

“Limit ourselves for two weeks, that should be possible,” says Dijkhoff (VVD). The extra measures will take effect on Wednesday evening at ten o’clock and will apply for the next two weeks. Then they expire ‘automatically’, says Prime Minister Rutte. Dijkhoff wonders how the cabinet can say that now, because it has always been stated with regard to previous measures that two weeks are needed to see the effect of interventions. “Is two weeks really two weeks?” Asks D66 party leader Jetten.

’Not a brilliant template’

Rutte again promises that the measures will apply strictly for two weeks. Questions about the corona roadmap, from SGP leader Kees van der Staaij, among others, encounter unclear answers from the prime minister. For example, the roadmap is intended as a ‘guideline for the main lines’, something that according to Rutte can no longer be adhered to in the current situation. ChristenUnie Gert-Jan Segers was not satisfied with this. After all, the roadmap was once created to create clarity.

“It’s not like we’re some brilliant template have to keep everything running smoothly, ”said Rutte. According to the prime minister, everything is focused on the “sum of the travel movements”: “Then it is just really not wise to allow 100 people on a funeral.”

According to SP party leader Marijnissen, there is too much ‘poldering’ about the corona approach. “It even seems that it happens within their own cabinet. And it doesn’t get any clearer. ” CU leader Segers also noticed this, who cannot reconcile the extra intervention with the roadmap presented by the cabinet a few weeks ago. “I see different measures from different phases. That creates a lack of clarity. ”

Future pandemic

PVV leader Wilders is once again targeting the situation in healthcare. He wants the cabinet to at least prepare for a new crisis, such as a pandemic, and asks for a national care reserve for crisis situations. “Where is the government’s care offensive?” Asks Wilders. He finds SP member Marijnissen at his side: “Isn’t this the time to further build up care?”

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