The Netherlands will be locked for at least five weeks from midnight, Prime Minister Rutte just said during his speech from the Torentje. This is what is going to happen:
Shops and work
All non-essential stores must be closed. This concerns, for example, department stores, clothing stores and hardware stores. Only necessary shops, such as supermarkets, bakers, butchers, banks, drugstores and pharmacies are allowed to remain open. This also applies to liquor stores and petrol stations.
Entrepreneurs with a contact profession (hairdressers, sex workers, beauticians) must stop. People with a “medical contact profession”, such as physiotherapists and dentists, are allowed to continue working.
Visit
The permitted visit is further reduced. Only two people are allowed to pass by, there were three. Outside, people are also allowed to come together with two people, with the exception of their own family. As promised earlier, the cabinet will make a small exception for Christmas. A maximum of three guests may visit on 24, 25 and 26 December. Children up to the age of 13 are excluded from this.
sports
The cabinet also intervenes in sports. The gyms will close, as will swimming pools and sports halls. That means that indoor sports will be a thing of the past in the coming weeks. In the open air, adults can still exercise with a maximum of two people. This restriction does not apply to children. For example, can continue to train outside in a group.
To travel
Rutte again emphasized that unnecessary travel is not recommended. Those who have rented a holiday home in their own country can safely go, the prime minister said, knowing that the facilities there too are limited to a minimum. The government has advised against traveling abroad for some time. Rutte calls on people not to book holidays to other countries until at least mid-March. Travelers coming to the Netherlands from outside the European Union must be able to submit a negative corona test upon arrival.
Education
The new measures are hitting education hard. From this Wednesday, distance education will become the norm for all schools. This also applies to primary and secondary schools. A few exceptions are made, for example for practical lessons, exams and students who need extra support.
Childcare remains available only to parents with crucial professions (care, education, emergency services).
Outings
The cabinet is closing almost all places where people gather. These include saunas, casinos, museums, zoos, theaters and amusement parks. Libraries are also closing, but people can continue to bring and collect books.
This article is being supplemented.
