What will we be allowed to do from May 11 on?
What will we be allowed to do from May 11 on?
Door Anne de Vries
By Anne de Vries
The first changes are coming up on May 11. Next to the opening of elementary schools as announced on April 21, the so-called ‘contact professions’ such as hairdressers, masseurs and driving instructors will be allowed to open their doors.
Though only on appointment, and only if they submit all their clients to questionnaires about their health beforehand. Also on May 11, everyone can resume outside sports at 1.5m.
And, libraries may open if they provide for the mandatory 1.5m distance. What this means for the University Library is too early to say, according to UG spokesperson Jorien Bakker.
30 people
Then on June 1 secondary schools, just as museums, cinemas and restaurants can start up again. For the last three, only a maximum of 30 people is allowed inside, including staff, and only on reservation. Terraces may open if they keep the 1.5m.
Public transportation will also resume their normal timetable, though it will be mandatory for all passengers to wear face masks, as the 1.5m is harder to maintain.
The 30 people maximum will be scaled up to 100 people from July 1 on. This means that churches, funeral homes and conference halls can also open their doors.
Gyms and sportclubs
Lastly, the government hopes to reopen gyms and other indoor sports clubs starting from September. The next phase would be to look at events and large-scale gatherings. During Thursday’s parliament briefing the government said they may forbid all such events until a corona-vaccine is on the market.
Alongside their month-by-month plan the government will be scaling up corona-testing abilities, starting with the elderly, health professionals and teachers, and possibly all people with symptoms from June 1.
Scale down
Hopefully, said Prime Minister Rutte, this also means that we can ultimately scale down the ‘stay at home’ order to ‘stay at home if you have symptoms’, resulting in less working from home.
All changes, pressed Rutte, are under the provision that the infection rate and the amount of patients on the ICU keep decreasing. ‘We made this possible together, but we also have to make sure it lasts, together.’