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Netherlands: With a partial lockdown against high corona numbers

2021-11-13T14:56:23.604Z


Bars have to close earlier, big parties are banned: In view of the increasing number of infections, the Dutch government has announced new restrictions. Violent protests broke out in The Hague.


Enlarge image

A partial lockdown was in place in the Netherlands as early as spring 2021.

Restaurants had to close

Photo: EVERT ELZINGA / AFP

In June the politicians in the Netherlands were even more relieved.

"This is a great moment," said Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

He had just announced a way out of lockdown.

His Justice Minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus even let himself be carried away to a song in front of the TV cameras.

"Protective mask, where are you going, in the trash, in the trash," he sang to the tune of a nursery rhyme.

Many Dutch people were convinced: festivals with thousands of visitors, a joking Minister of Justice, that's it for us with the corona virus.

But now the ease is gone again.

A partial lockdown is to apply in the Netherlands for three weeks from Saturday evening.

The Netherlands would thus be the first country in western Europe to decide on a partial lockdown again since the summer;

the Austrian government wants to send unvaccinated people into lockdown from Monday.

Both governments hope to get the tense corona situation under control.

In both countries, the number of infections and patients has been rising rapidly for days.

Austria will again be considered a high-risk area from Sunday.

Prime Minister Rutte informed about the partial lockdown on Friday evening at a press conference in The Hague.

These measures should come into force on Saturday evening:

  • The 1.5 meter distance rule is reintroduced.

    The mask requirement has been extended to public spaces such as shops for ten days.

  • Bars, restaurants and supermarkets have to close at 8 p.m., shops for non-urgent needs as early as 6 p.m.

  • Larger events are prohibited.

  • Citizens are only allowed to receive a maximum of four visitors at home.

  • Sports competitions should take place without an audience, this also applies to football games.

  • Cinemas and theaters should be allowed to continue to be used with proof of vaccination or recovery or a negative corona test.

  • The recommendation is to work "as much as possible" in the home office.

    Previously, the guideline was to work at home half the week.

After the three weeks, the Dutch government plans to introduce the 2G rule.

Citizens are then only allowed to take part in events or eat in restaurants if they have been vaccinated or have recovered.

School closings are not planned for the time being.

After the measures were announced, violent protests broke out in The Hague that evening.

Five demonstrators were arrested.

They are accused of throwing stones and fireworks at the emergency services and of defying instructions from the police, as reported by the Dutch news agency ANP.

The demonstration was broken up by the police with water cannons.

Rutte had to act in view of the corona situation.

The number of new infections rose to more than 16,300 on Thursday and thus reached a peak.

The seven-day incidence rose to more than 500, although, according to official figures, about 82 percent of people over the age of twelve are vaccinated.

For comparison: In Germany the incidence is now 277. The situation in the Dutch clinics is also considered tense, treatments have to be postponed due to the increasing number of corona cases.

Gastronomy is fighting against early closings

Fierce resistance to the planned measures comes from the catering industry.

Dirk Beljaarts, managing director of the restaurant association KNH, called the originally planned closing time of 7 p.m. "unacceptable".

"After 20 months of failing government policy, support from entrepreneurs has dropped to zero," Beljaarts told the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

He referred to studies that are supposed to prove a low risk of infection in the catering industry.

Beljaarts now assumes that many owners will also open their restaurants and bars after the mandatory closing time.

He "fully understands" that.

The announcement by a business association that it does not want to adhere to legal measures is a new escalation in the dispute over the corona policy in the Netherlands.

Curfews in Romania

Romania, for example, shows that a partial lockdown can help to minimize the number of infections.

Here the corona situation had worsened dramatically in mid-October, the seven-day incidence was over 750. The EU Commission sent additional doctors and medical equipment to the south-eastern European country.

Romania's government ruled with drastic restrictions: restaurants and bars now close at 9 p.m., before only half capacity is allowed.

In addition, 3G applies: only vaccinated, tested and convalescent have access, whereby a test for Romanian standards is expensive at around 20 euros.

Exit restrictions apply at night, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. only vaccinated and convalescent people are allowed to leave their homes without good reason.

The measures have already been successful, the number of infections is falling rapidly.

“Lockdown for Unvaccinated People” in Austria

For Austria, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg announced the lockdown for unvaccinated people on Friday, and the measures should be decided on Sunday. In view of the steep rise in the number of infections, it is no longer sensible to wait. "We'll take this step now," said Schallenberg. The conservative politician justified the further restriction for non-immunized people who had been vaccinated could not be expected to go into another lockdown for everyone.

The developments in the Netherlands and Austria show that Europe's casual approach to the coronavirus is over.

In the meantime, the Dutch Justice Minister Grapperhaus has also apologized for his vocal performance over the protective mask.

In any case, since the beginning of November it has been mandatory to wear a mask in all public places such as libraries and shops in the Netherlands.

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2021-11-13

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