The Netherlands to announce more restrictions due to record COVID-19 infections

The Dutch government will announce new restrictions today to curb the cases of covid-19, a day after registering the highest number of infections since the start of the pandemic.

The hospitality industry and non-essential stores will have to bring the closing time forward to 7:00 p.m., according to the NOS chain, a measure that would come into effect this Saturday and would last for at least three weeks.

A recommendation will also be introduced for companies to telecommute whenever possible and limit visits to four people per home, according to the same sources.

Sporting events will once again be closed to the public, including all football league matches and the decisive qualifying match for the Qatar 2022 World Cup between the Netherlands and Norway teams, next Tuesday in Rotterdam.

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The Executive would have ruled out other tougher measures requested by the experts who advise it, published the Dutch press, such as the closure of cinemas and theaters and the cancellation of events.

Nor are changes expected in the use of the mask, which is mandatory today in public transport, shops, libraries and hairdressers.

The Government is studying expanding the covid pass, currently necessary to enter the interior of bars, restaurants, swimming pools and gyms, and making it mandatory also in zoos and theme parks.

To obtain this pass in the Netherlands, at least one of three requirements must be met: have the complete vaccination schedule, have recently passed the disease or show a negative test, a system known as 3G in countries such as Germany or Austria.

The intention of the Government, which needs the approval of Parliament to approve this measure, is to go from 3G to 2G, eliminating the option of the negative test, thus promoting vaccination.

The percentage of the population without the complete regimen represents 17.6% of the population, but the unvaccinated occupied 56% of the beds in Dutch hospitals destined for patients with covid-19 last October.

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This percentage rose to 70% in the case of Intensive Care Units (ICU), according to data from the Ministry of Health.

The Netherlands registered 16,364 new infections last Thursday, the highest number since the start of the pandemic, and 26 deaths in the last 24 hours. (I)