Outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte gives a press conference on the coronavirus measures, in the Hague, on 2 November 2021. Photo: Phil nijhuis / ANP / AFP

Dutch head for ‘partial lockdown’ after Covid record

The Covid spike comes despite the fact that 82% of Dutch people over the age of 12 have been fully vaccinated

by Agence France-Presse

12-11-2021 11:35

in World News

Outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte gives a press conference on the coronavirus measures, in the Hague, on 2 November 2021. Photo: Phil nijhuis / ANP / AFP

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will on Friday announce new Covid-19 restrictions, reportedly including Western Europe’s first “partial lockdown” of the winter, as cases hit record levels.

Three weeks of measures are planned, with bars, restaurants and non-essential shops having to close at 7:00 pm and people again advised to work from home, local media said.

DUTCH WORLD CUP QUALIFIER BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Public events will be scrapped while football matches including the Netherlands’ home World Cup qualifier with Norway next week must be played behind closed doors, they said.

Schools will however reportedly remain open, and people will be allowed to leave their homes without restrictions.

‘PARTIAL LOCKDOWN’ TO ‘QUICKLY REDUCE CASES’

Rutte and Health Minister Hugo de Jonge will hold a press conference at 7:00 pm (18:00 GMT) to announce the curbs, with broadcaster RTL reporting that the cabinet was describing it as a “partial lockdown” to “quickly reduce cases”.

The government is also reportedly set to limit the “Covid pass” for catering and entertainment after the three-week period, so that it can only be used by people who are vaccinated or have recovered from Covid, and not by people who just have a negative test.

DUTCH SANTA CLAUS CANCELLED

Meanwhile, the official arrival of Sinterklaas – the Dutch Santa Claus – scheduled on Saturday in the historic central city of Utrecht has already been cancelled due to the spike in cases.

Fresh restrictions are however politically sensitive, with thousands of people rallying in The Hague last Sunday after the government on 2 November said it was reintroducing face masks in some public spaces.

READ: Covid-19 vaccination drive aims to open sports and music events

DUTCH SET NEW RECORD OF COVID CASES OVER 24 HOURS

The Netherlands on Thursday reported 16 364 new Covid cases over the previous 24 hours, smashing the previous record of 12 997 set last December.

The nation of 17 million people has reported 2.2 million cases and 18 612 deaths since the start of the pandemic last year.

Hospitals have warned they will not be able to make it through the winter under the current conditions.

COVID SPIKE DESPITE VACCINATION

The Covid spike comes despite the fact that 82% of Dutch people over the age of 12 have been fully vaccinated.

Unvaccinated people account for most intensive care cases (69%) and hospital admissions (55%), but waning vaccine efficiency, particularly in the elderly, has also been blamed for the surge.