Netherlands announces partial lockdown in effort to curb surge of COVID cases
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Friday announced three weeks of tough anti-Covid measures on hospitality, shops and sport to curb a record rise in infections. At a news conference, Rutte announced a "hard blow of a few weeks because the virus is everywhere, throughout the country, in all sectors and all ages".
- World
- Reuters
- Published Date: 09:35 | 12 November 2021
- Modified Date: 09:47 | 12 November 2021
The Netherlands will return to a partial lockdown from Saturday after the government ordered restaurants and shops to close early and barred spectators from major sporting events in an effort to contain a rapid surge in COVID-19 cases.
Caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a televised address on Friday that the stricter rules will be imposed for three weeks.
"Tonight we are bringing a very unpleasant message with very unpleasant and far-reaching measures," Rutte said. "The virus is everywhere and needs to be combatted everywhere," he said.
Supermarkets and non-essential retailers will also close earlier and social distancing measures will be reimposed. The number of recommended no more than four visitors at home.
Rutte said the government was also exploring ways to limit public access to people who have not been vaccinated after the lockdown period.
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