In the corona pandemic, the Netherlands is confronted with the rapidly spreading omicron variant. Now a hard lockdown could come.
The Hague – The Netherlands may face another tough lockdown in the fight against the coronavirus – even before Christmas. The Prime Minister of the country, Mark Rutte, wants to announce new tightening this Saturday evening (December 18, 2021, 7 p.m.), the government in The Hague announced.
The advisory body had advised the government on a strict lockdown because of the rapidly spreading omicron variant of the virus. According to media reports, it was from government circles that the lockdown will come into force on Sunday (December 19, 2021) for shops, restaurants, culture and hairdressers and should initially apply until January 14, 2022.
Netherlands: Omikron variant could provide complete lockdown
According to the first reports, people flocked to city centers across the country, where long lines formed in front of hairdressers and shops. Many Dutch people wanted to do their Christmas shopping at the last minute before the lockdown. According to the dpa news agency, the center of Rotterdam was already so overcrowded in the early afternoon that the city called on citizens to refrain from coming into the city.
The experts had recommended that almost all shops, with the exception of supermarkets and pharmacies, be closed. Restaurants, sports, cultural institutions, cinemas and schools should also be closed. There is currently a lockdown for the evening – everything, with the exception of supermarkets, must close at 5 p.m.
Figures from Amsterdam make it clear that the number of infections with the Omikron variant doubles every two to three days. According to the experts, this variant will be dominant in the capital even before Christmas. The hospitals in particular are still under such high pressure that, according to the panel’s fears, they will not be able to cope with another wave of patients. (na / dpa)
