Possible stricter corona measures before Christmas | Inland

“It has been a tough year for a lot of people. We now know nearly 10,000 empty chairs at the Christmas table due to corona. That is an extra reason that we want to be together ”, says Rutte, who answers the question on Tuesday evening what is possible with Christmas. “Unfortunately, the answer is: no more than in recent months.”

Minister De Jonge calls on everyone to observe the corona rules during the Christmas dinner: “We really must prevent that we give the virus to someone else at Christmas.”

If the figures continue to rise, it may even be that even tougher measures will be taken before Christmas, Prime Minister Rutte warns. He does not want to say what measures will be taken. “We will do everything we can to protect Christmas as much as possible. But we don’t know now whether that is possible. “

Roadmap

The cabinet is still working on a new roadmap that should offer people a little more perspective. But when that new roadmap will come is still unclear. Prime Minister Rutte says that things have to be firmer here and there: “That will be settled before or after Christmas.”

The catering industry will remain closed for the time being and the plan to extend the Christmas holidays with schools by one week has been dropped again. And the travel advice for Curaçao changes from yellow to orange, a disappointment for travelers who had just booked a ticket to the Curaçao sun.

Taste

If things go in the right direction, Rutte hopes that more can be done from mid-January. “We are going to do a number of pilot projects in January to see what can be done to start up again responsibly. We do this locally and in a very controlled manner ”, the Prime Minister explains. “What should we think about then? For example, a trial in a theater with more visitors or a football match with large groups of supporters in the stadium. ”

Prime Minister Rutte says that it is not necessary for the catering industry to practice. According to him, the sector is already sufficiently prepared. But they are not allowed to open yet, which is only allowed when the number of IC admissions has dropped to 10 per day. Now that number is still above 20.

The cabinet will hold a separate press conference on support to the business community on Wednesday. Rutte calls it a ‘good idea’ to have the Christmas dinner delivered this year by ‘your favorite restaurant’. There will also be a plan and extra money for special activities for young people.

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