There will be no relaxing of the national measures against coronavirus from 1st September, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte said at a press conference held on the evening of 1 September. Due to the high number of new cases in the country, night clubs and bars will remain closed, while the strict rules for collective gatherings will also remain in force.
Maintaining stability and preventing a second wave
Yesterday evening Rutte together with Health Minister Hugo de Jonge commented on the state of affairs regarding the pandemic’s development in the country, six months from the start of the outbreak, and explained what they are doing to avoid a second wave of coronavirus.
The main decision announced yesterday was one that is bound to disappoint many – contrary to expectations, it has been decided not to open discos and night clubs yet. The so-called “cheering ban” also remains in force – it refers to singing and shouting in crowds, such as ones that form during demonstrations, protests, sports games, competitions and concerts.
Quarantine for those returning from orange-labelled countries and families that were placed under lockdown in their entirety will both be required to stay at home for a period of 10 days. However, it was decided that children of up to 4 years of age will be allowed to attend childcare facilities and take part in sports activities while those between 4 and 12 will also be allowed to return to school.
Finally, it is believed that staff in nursing homes are better prepared to recognize COVID-19 symptoms and are better trained in the use of protective equipment, which certainly gives them a higher chance of preventing possible outbreaks. If such occur, however, residents and employees will be tested on a weekly basis.
Meanwhile, just yesterday, a total of 462 persons tested positive for Covid-19 in the country, but the numbers of hospital admissions and admissions at intensive care units remain far below the critical threshold. These figures and estimates, however, are bound to change, should a large number of people disregard social distancing norms and fail to observe preventative guidelines.
Source: TheMayor.EU
