Households have been urged to welcome no more than two visitors over the age of 13 from Tuesday, although an exception will be made for three days around Christmas when they can welcome three.
In a rare televised address, marked by the sound of protesters banging pots and pans outside his office, Mark Rutte told the nation: “The Netherlands is closing down. We realise the gravity of our decisions, right before Christmas.”
The Netherlands is the latest European country to announce it will be enforcing strict measures over the festive period following a spike in infections, with Germany earlier announcing similar restrictions.
People in the Netherlands have been advised to stay at home, not travel to work, and to avoid contact with others as much as possible.
All public places – including day care centres, gyms, museums, zoos, cinemas, hairdressers and beauty salons – will close until 19 January.
Schools will also close until 18 January.
Related Articles:
- Netherlands to go into tough, five-week lockdown over Christmas (Reuters)
- Dutch leader announces tough new nationwide virus lockdown (ABC News)
- Covid measures have not hit quality of college, university education – yet (DutchNews)
- As school coronavirus infections rise, teachers call for calm approach (DutchNews)
- Europe wanted to keep schools open this winter. Coronavirus surges have disrupted those plans. (Washington Post)
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