Although the number of new infections in the Netherlands has been decreasing for a few days, the cabinet does not believe that the corona virus is being reduced enough. That is why Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced additional measures on Tuesday evening that will take effect from Wednesday evening at 10 p.m. for two weeks.
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“Always ask yourself: do I really have to go outside?” Said Prime Minister Mark Rutte during the Dutch press conference. Rutte started by explaining why the extra measures are necessary. ‘I don’t know how you are doing, but my blood pressure is rising slightly every day as the numbers come in. If we look at that soberly, the picture is: it is not going badly, but certainly not good enough. In hospitals and nursing homes, the patients are increasing and in some places it is sinking or drowning. That is why there is reason for additional measures. ‘ The general advice is to stay at home as much as possible.
All publicly accessible places such as theaters, museums, cinemas, zoos, amusement parks, sex clubs and swimming pools must close from tomorrow evening. In Belgium, the decision to close public spaces has already been taken. Another striking difference from the Belgian measures is that non-essential shops and gyms remain open and that contact professions can be carried out.
The cabinet is also calling on everyone not to travel abroad in the coming months. ‘The world map is now almost completely orange or red anyway,’ says Rutte.
The Dutch government wants to provide more clarity about the holidays in two weeks. There would possibly be a temporary fireworks ban.
Regional measures
Regions where the number of corona infections is not falling enough, are facing a ‘de facto lockdown’, according to Prime Minister Rutte. Where this lies, will be investigated in the coming week. At the moment, Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Zuid-Holland-Zuid and Twente would be eligible for these stricter measures, but according to Rutte that could still change. ‘We keep a finger on the pulse of whether and where additional measures are needed.’
From 1 December there would also be a mandatory mouth mask in public indoor spaces.
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