COVID-19 prevalence: New health restrictions in the Netherlands

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Friday announced a number of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus pollution in his country, including the closure of nightclubs.

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Infections in the Netherlands increased sevenfold in one week, with 7,000 new cases detected on Friday, forcing the government to relax health restrictions.

“There is a black cloud before the sun. Currently, pollution rates are exploding, mainly due to the high adhesive delta variant, ”he told a news conference. “If we don’t do something, the pollution rate will increase further. The rapid spread of the virus must be eradicated in the bud ”.

So the government decided to close all nightclubs and restaurants at midnight.

The Prime Minister said that all customers of restaurants and cafes must observe a distance of 1.5 meters, according to which concert or entertainment is not allowed.

Incidents that lasted more than 24 hours were stopped, Rutte said.

These measures will take effect from 6 a.m. local time on Saturday and last until at least August 13.

“Two weeks ago, all the signs were green,” said Health Minister Hugo de Zong. “It simply came to our notice then. This is the result of the rapid expansion of the Delta variant in Europe and the Netherlands. “

“It simply came to our notice then. Last week we were at 500 new cases per day. Today, there are 7,000 new infections, ”mainly among young people.

In these new health measures it is not mandatory to wear a container or curfew or indoor mask as it was a few months ago.

Mr Rutte called on the population to “respect the basic rules – social distance and wash their hands”.

“If we do this, we will still have a wonderful summer,” he said.

With a population of 17 million, the country has more than 1.7 million cases of coronavirus and 17,700 deaths.

Eighty percent of the population received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 50% had two, the health minister said.