Government announces partial lockdown
With 7,393 new infections on Monday, prime minister Mark Rutte said during the press conference, the government had no other option than to implement harsh restrictions to get the coronavirus under control. ‘The number of social contacts and movements we make has to be cut drastically’, he said. ‘It is the only way. We have to be tough on ourselves and on our behaviour.’
This means that bars and pubs will have to shut their doors for at least the next two weeks. Restaurants and coffee shops are only allowed to open for take-away service.
People are urged to work at home unless it is impossible for them to do so. The number of visitors at home is restricted to three people per day. Outside, groups can consist of no more than four people.
Masks compulsory
Face masks will finally become compulsory in indoor public spaces and public transportation. However, this still needs to be worked out legally. Until then the government strongly urges everyone to use a face mask. At schools and universities, students and teachers must wear a mask when not in class.
Shops will close at 8 p.m., with the exception of food shops. Alcohol and soft drugs are banned in public spaces between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Team sports with teams of more than four persons are cancelled and competitions are forbidden for everyone under 18. Sports canteens, showers, and locker rooms will close. Only professional sports will still be allowed.
Two weeks
The new rules will stay in place for at least two weeks. In the weeks leading up to October 27, the government will decide what measures will be necessary in the weeks that follow.
The government corona dashboard shows the development of the coronavirus in the different regions, like the number of infections, the numbers of hospitalised corona patients, and the reproduction number. It also shows the level of risk in the different safety regions of the country. Groningen is classified as a level 3 – serious. The highest risk level is 4 – very serious – and applies to major cities like Amsterdam where there are more than 250 confirmed cases per 100.000 people in a week.