After the Council of Ministers it was time again for Prime Minister Rutte’s press conference. Only Tuesday will a decision be taken about any relaxation with a view to the holidays, but Rutte is already tempering expectations. “It just doesn’t look good at the moment. With these high contamination numbers, people understand very well that very little is possible. “
In the fight against the corona virus, Rutte does not currently think of additional measures for education, such as closing schools for a week longer during the Christmas holidays. But at the same time he doesn’t rule it out either. “It is not my expectation but we have yet to see it. There are major disadvantages to an extra week off. It has an impact on the children and the question is what it does with the spread of the virus, ”said Rutte.
In the coming period, the cabinet has presented all kinds of variants for the corona approach to the OMT, the team of experts that advises on the virus. Rutte’s image of a longer closure of the schools is that it would not have “a dramatic effect” on containing the virus. But in the coming days, the cabinet and the experts will look at everything and think about it. “It could be that we say at the press conference on Tuesday that the schools will close longer.”
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More risks due to drinking
In recent days, Rutte has been in contact with Germany, France and Luxembourg. There the schools are also open and the catering industry closed. The closure of the hospitality industry has also been extended in other countries, the prime minister said. He reiterated the “above average risks” of contamination in catering establishments. “People are often together for more than 15 minutes and loud music and drinking also lead to more risks.”
The contamination figures are still not looking good, according to the Prime Minister. The figures fluctuate daily and on Friday there was a slight increase in the number of new infections by 300, to almost 6000. “We would have liked to have reached a different level by December 10, of about 3000 new infections per day”. That would lead to fewer admissions to hospitals and intensive care.
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No irresponsible risks
The high level of contamination requires caution, without taking irresponsible risks, Rutte emphasized.
A large part of the cabinet will meet again on Sunday at the Catshuis to discuss all the options. The days after, there are still consultations about corona and the cabinet takes decisions. On Tuesday evening, Rutte and healthcare minister Hugo de Jonge will announce the decisions during their press conference.
ANP / editors
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