The municipality is investigating whether it can organize activities for young people with New Year’s Eve, but with a distance of 1.5 meters. Mayor Halsema says that on Friday evening AT5. ‘We cannot do so with old and new superspreading events which means we are in deep trouble again a month later. ‘
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Halsema responds The Conversation with the Mayor to the call of Mayor Bruls of Nijmegen to make events for young people possible during the turn of the year, in order to combat illegal parties.
Amsterdam is also thinking about this, but these will be meetings with restrictions, according to Halsema. ‘Our main aim is to organize many activities for young people where it is also safe for young people, and which will prevent new outbreaks of infection.’
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The question is whether young people are waiting for such events. Halsema: ‘Of course I also understand very well that young people especially like parties where no municipality is present, but we will have to meet each other halfway through.’
New Year’s Eve has always been a tough evening for the police and emergency services, but this year it will be extra exciting, according to the mayor. ‘We are of course concerned from the triangle, with the police and the Public Prosecution Service. It is of course an explosive moment in the year, especially when people are very bored. At the same time, the national fireworks ban does help enormously. ‘
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What can also help to get back to normal life a bit is of course a vaccine. In recent weeks, there have been hopeful reports about its effectiveness. But a large group of people also doubt whether the vaccine is safe.
Whether Halsema would take the vaccine himself? ‘Yes of course. Once it’s approved, it’s declared safe, I’ll definitely take it. And I also hope that people do not become skeptical about that. ‘
Trust science
‘Trust science,’ she continues, ‘trust that the people who have continued to learn for it, are really not taking any risks with our population. And you take a vaccine to be safe yourself, but also to ensure that other people who are more vulnerable are also safe. ‘
The arrival of a vaccine and the possibility to test more will be of great significance, according to Halsema. ‘That means that a densely populated city like Amsterdam will get a bit of air again, not in the least I hope that for all our young people who can go out a little again, and for our clubs that have been closed for six or seven months now.’
Watch the entire Conversation with the Mayor below:
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