Stricter rules for the hospitality industry and office workers

The cabinet today announces stricter national measures in an attempt to contain the rapid spread of the corona virus. Sources say that NRC. Catering establishments throughout the Netherlands are obliged to close their doors at ten o’clock in the evening. The measures will take effect on Tuesday evening.

The cabinet is currently still discussing the number of people that may be allowed in, for example, restaurants and cafes. For example, there is discussion about how many people are allowed to sit at one table. Now the one-and-a-half meter rule does not apply to people sitting at one table.

In addition, the size of meetings is discussed. Now they may consist of a maximum of fifty people, which will be fewer. How much less is not yet clear, there is talk of a maximum group size of thirty people. For companies, such as cinemas, it seems that per establishment and hall it is determined how many people are allowed to come together. The advice on the number of visitors that people can receive at home is also being adjusted: now there are six, that will be three or four.

Follow the latest news on the Covid-19 outbreak in our blog

Working from home

Until now, the cabinet’s message was to work from home “as much as possible”. Tonight that will change to “work from home if possible”. The cabinet hopes this will reduce the congestion in public transport. New measures are needed because the number of infections has been increasing for days. The cabinet wants to prevent a new ‘intelligent lockdown’. In contrast to that lockdown, schools, nurseries and gyms will now remain open.

The measures announced in a press conference tonight by Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD) and Minister Hugo de Jonge (Public Health, CDA) will be in force for three weeks. It is then examined whether they have had an effect on the number of corona infections.

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