On Tuesday evening, representatives of the 25 security regions will meet to discuss the possibility of a curfew. They will then issue a joint advice to the cabinet, which will come to a decision later in the week.
Also see: Bruls not in favor of curfew: ‘First know if it is a good measure’
That advice is not binding, however. There is great division in the House of Representatives and this can also be seen in the Gelderland mayors.
For example, mayor Hubert Bruls of Nijmegen and Ahmed Marcouch of Arnhem previously indicated that they hope the cabinet will provide evidence of the effect of a curfew. Still, they say they have the means to enforce the measure, should it come to that.
Fear of counterproductive effect
No more taking to the streets between 8 PM and 4 AM. Mayor René Verhulst van Ede does not like it. “I have noticed that curfews among the people who now adhere to the measures and are careful for themselves and others mainly provokes resistance,” he says.
In addition, he fears it will have little effect. “People who do not comply with the measures now and get together in groups or several people, do not keep their distance, celebrate parties, will also not care about a curfew and will simply find ways to continue with their behavior.”
The party somewhere in a house or room just goes
Verhulst thinks that a curfew would be counterproductive. “The party somewhere in a house or room just continues and a caregiver is stopped and has to demonstrate what he or she is going to do. They get angry too, because they say: I just want to help my mother. I can do that too. understand.”
According to him it is better to maintain in large groups or where parties take place. “Better than in the evening on the street, because then people are often out for a good reason.”
‘Stick to the measures’
The mayor of Ede states that many infections can be prevented with the current corona measures. “Stick to the measures; if we do that together, you can already prevent a lot. Most infections are in the home situation anyway. With too many people together. Try to avoid that, I think you will already have a very far. “
Nieke Hoitink spoke on Radio Gelderland with Mayor Verhulst:
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Mayor Mark Boumans van Doetinchem believes that there is still too little knowledge to assess whether a curfew is a useful, but above all necessary, measure. “But I think it is important that there is sufficient support for it,” he emphasizes.
Visiting ban and mandatory working from home
On Tuesday evening, the 25 mayors also discuss other measures that may still be taken in the fight against corona, such as a visitation ban and mandatory working from home. Justice minister Ferd Grapperhaus is at the meeting on behalf of the cabinet. After the meeting, he and chairman Hubert Bruls of the Security Council explain the decisions taken.
The Outbreak Management Team (OMT) is expected to issue advice on curfew on Tuesday. Previously, OMT members have already expressed positive about its introduction.
The curfew is not only a sensitive issue for many mayors. Police unions also do not see such a serious measure, because they foresee problems with enforcement. But due to, among other things, the constantly high infection numbers and the arrival of the British variant, there seems to be some more understanding for the possible introduction.
Also see: If a curfew comes, it will cost Achraf a lot of money
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