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A five-week quarantine period will take effect this week in the Netherlands in an attempt to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the most severe measure adopted so far in this country and it happens just before the holidays.
“The Netherlands will be closed for five weeks,” Mark Rutte said in a televised speech at the government headquarters in The Hague, in front of which protesters were gathering. Shouts and whistles directed at Prime Minister Rutte could be heard as he delivered the speech, the international news agencies, taken over by Agerpres, say.
“We are not dealing with a simple flu, as the people behind us think,” said the Dutch prime minister, referring to the protesters.
The announced measures are the most severe since the start of the new coronavirus pandemic. In March, the Netherlands applied “smart isolation”, keeping stores open and closing schools.
These measures will last until January 19 and were taken because the number of contaminations increased considerably and the death toll exceeded 10,000.
Also, the place where the speech was delivered is important, as the Dutch prime minister’s office is usually used only for very solemn announcements. Since the beginning of the epidemic-induced health crisis, most of the measures have been announced in a simple press conference room.
What restrictions do the Dutch have?
Dutch citizens are advised to stay home and receive a maximum of two people a day.
All non-essential stores, except supermarkets, grocery stores and pharmacies, will be closed starting Tuesday, while schools will be closed starting Wednesday.
Museums, cinemas, performance halls and gyms, as well as zoos will also be closed, Mark Rutte added.
The Dutch Prime Minister asked his fellow citizens to reduce their departures, not to travel abroad and to limit the number of guests for the Christmas celebration to one, maximum two.
Editor: Luana Pavaluca
