Hoekstra said that the measures immediately pay a price for welfare, such as collateral damage in health care and also in the economy. “It’s very sad and inevitable. But we’re looking at the importance of the whole country.”
The minister also said: “You try to unite the damage to society and the entire economy, no matter how difficult that may be.”
Support package ‘breathes with’
According to Hoekstra, the support packages that affected entrepreneurs can make use of are designed in such a way that they ‘breathe’ with the economic situation. It is likely to be used significantly more than previously estimated.
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Hoekstra pointed out that the consequences of the measures will cost hundreds of millions or even billions of extra, but that the Netherlands can handle that.
Serious situation
Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge said afterwards that today’s new corona figures, an increase of 7,393 infections, are ‘a cause for concern’. “The new figure underscores the seriousness of the situation. We have to brace ourselves for additional measures.”
It is expected that the measures announced tonight at 7 p.m. will hit the catering industry hard, among others. A temporary closure of food and beverage outlets seems imminent, say insiders.
The press conference can be followed live from 7 p.m. on RTL 4 and on our site and app
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