Secondary schools to reopen, no changes for higher education
Door Yelena Kilina
By Yelena Kilina
Rutte said in Tuesday evening’s press conference that the Netherlands has reached a phase in which ‘we’re prepared to take a bit more of a risk’ and acknowledged that school is important for teenagers not only in terms of education, but also ’socially and emotionally’.
Hairdressers and non-essential stores
The curfew will be extended until March 15, but Rutte did announce a relaxation of a few other coronavirus measures. As of March 3, non-essential shops will be allowed to receive customers by appointment, provided that there will be a maximum of two shoppers per floor and every customer will have a time slot of at least ten minutes. You can book your slot four hours in advance.Â
Contact-based professionals such as hairdressers and masseurs can also resume their work from that date, but only by appointment. Â
From March 3, all young people up to twenty-seven years old can train in groups and play team sports again, outside. Formal competitions remain prohibited, though.Â
Neglecting the rules
Rutte warned that a quarter of people who test positive still neglect the rules of self-isolation, which he denounced as dangerous and ‘potentially life-threatening’. That is why everyone’s behaviour counts for the further relaxation of restrictions, he said.
The government will reassess the situation on March 8 to decide which restrictions should be followed from March 16 on.