10 after a longer-than-planned winter holiday, but have been plagued by frequent class dismissals due to illness or exposure of teachers or students. But Rutte warned that the move wasn't without risks.
Primary and secondary schools reopened on Jan. THE HAGUE, Netherlands - Prime Minister Mark Rutte further eased the Netherlands' coronavirus lockdown, allowing bars, restaurants, museums, theaters and other venues to reopen from Wednesday for the first time this year. Rutte said he viewed the actions as one-off protests and had talked to municipal authorities about enforcing the new rules after this weekend. In the southern city of Valkenburg, restaurants opened on Friday in defiance of the rules and with support from the city's mayor, and 15 other municipalities said they would follow suit on Saturday. More than 86% of Dutch adults are fully vaccinated and nearly 50% received a booster shot in a major campaign during the lockdown. 11.Ī poll by Hart van Nederland published on Friday found that 89% of people supported reopening stores and a majority also support reopening restaurants and cultural institutions. Infections have continued to rise despite the lockdown, which bans all public gatherings, with a record of more than 200,000 in the week through Jan. On Friday the Netherlands Institute for Health (RIVM) announced a record high of more than 35,000 infections in 24 hours. Rutte's government ordered the lockdown in mid-December as a wave of the Delta variant forced the health system to cancel all but the most urgent care and it appeared rising Omicron cases would overwhelm it. Lockdowns are very hard on everyone and keeping everything closed is also bad for our health," Health Minister Ernst Kuipers said. "We are taking a calculated risk because we have to. 25.Įarlier on Friday restaurants in one Dutch city reopened on and others said they would open on Saturday regardless of government plans as popular support for the month-long lockdown evaporates despite the strain on hospitals and record new infections.
They have explicitly warned the Dutch government against relaxing any measures due to the uncertainty around the Omikron variant and the high pressure on healthcare.Rutte added that the uncertainties meant that bars, restaurants and cultural venues would have to remain closed until at least Jan. That being said, the Dutch Outbreak Management Team (OMT) will not be easing up on its advice anytime soon. Well, something seems to be working with these new measures as last week’s numbers had an optimistic vibe where the number of infections, hospitalisations, and deaths slightly decreased. Thinking of hosting a Christmas event at home? Think again, because (holiday or not) the advice to receive a maximum of four people at home also remains, according to the NOS.Īs for the rumours of extending Christmas break in schools to limit the spread of coronavirus, the outgoing cabinet is still in session regarding this point and will bless us with a decision during tomorrow’s press conference. Until at least the beginning of January, the Dutch will be unable to enjoy catering, non-essential shops, or working towards a weight-related new year’s resolution at gyms after 5 PM. Sometimes, our hands are tied when it comes to the news we must report - this is one of those times. Since coronavirus only comes out after 5 PM, new leaks from the Dutch cabinet reveal that they plan to extend the current measures - including the evening lockdown - until the beginning of next year.
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