A temporary or non-temporary relaxation of the corona measures during the Christmas period is not possible in the Netherlands. Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD) announced this at a press conference. On the contrary: primary schools will close early next week. In the fight against the omikron variant, booster shots are given after three months.
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Rutte admits that this was ‘not the good news you hoped for’. He therefore speaks of ‘a setback, but perhaps not a big surprise’. Because the pressure on hospitals remains high and the omikron variant is on the rise, there can be no question of easing. “I hope that many people understand that this extension is inevitable.”
The Dutch will therefore be allowed to receive a maximum of four guests during the holidays. ‘There is no exception for Christmas and New Years. It is precisely the people we love that we want to protect by observing the basic rules,” said the prime minister. Contact between grandparents and grandchildren in particular should therefore be avoided, is the advice. ‘Don’t go and hug the grandchildren under the Christmas tree,’ says Rutte.
The most drastic measure taken by the government this afternoon is that schools must close on Monday. So far, the government has been against it. ‘These were very intensive and difficult conversations’, Rutte admitted, ‘knowing how that inevitably leads to learning delay.’ But the signals about the spread in the schools were ‘no longer to be ignored’. Distance learning is not provided. Schools must provide emergency care. If that is not possible by Monday, schools may exceptionally continue classes until Tuesday.
The other measures will be retained. This also applies to the so-calledavondlockdown‘, which means that almost all shops and the catering industry must close their doors at 5 p.m. The measure has been in effect since the end of November and will remain in effect until Friday 14 January.
‘Pop up’
The omikron variant currently accounts for an estimated one percent of all infections. Health Minister Hugo de Jonge (CDA) fears that this will increase quickly by analogy with Great Britain and Denmark. That is why the Netherlands will continue to increase the pace of the booster shots in the coming days.
Meanwhile, all vaccinated people over 60 who have been vaccinated for more than six months have received a call. But that will be expanded in the coming days to everyone over 60 who has been double vaccinated for at least three months. ‘By mid-January, all over-18s who have been vaccinated for three months should be given the chance to get a boost,’ says De Jonge.
descending line
In the Netherlands, the number of confirmed infections is decreasing. Compared to a week ago, there are now about a fifth fewer new infections. As with us, the rate of decline is accelerating.
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