The Netherlands will lift the corona restrictions. This is happening in ‘big steps’ ‘which will follow in quick succession’. This was announced by the Minister of Health Ernst Kuipers.
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The entire society will open again, Kuipers announced at a press conference that could be followed live on TV. ‘Not all at once, but in steps. Those are big steps, in quick succession. This is done with a view to the vulnerable in society. Because we can’t live without each other’, he says.
At the end of last year, the Netherlands went back in full lockdown, as the only European country. A series followed in January relaxations† The catering industry was also allowed to open limited again. In combination with the advance of omikron, this caused a peak in the number of infections. “But we now seem to be at or over the peak,” said the minister. Still, he warns to be careful. “The number of infections remains very high.” A phase-out is therefore necessary, he says.
The first relaxations will take effect immediately. There is no longer a restriction on the number of people you can receive at home, and ‘maximum’ teleworking is replaced by ‘working at the office maximum half the time’.
From February 18, the rule to keep distance from each other and the mask obligation will expire. Everything can then stay open again until 1 am. There is still an exception for public transport and at airports.
A week later, on February 25, almost everything else will be overhauled. Closing hours have expired, and the corona pass is no longer required at meetings with fewer than 500 attendees. The quarantine rules from high-risk countries are also becoming less strict. Nevertheless, according to Minister Kuipers, it is still better to avoid large crowds for the time being. ‘Celebrate carnival in your own environment. Celebrate in the cafe, but not in large crowds.”
On March 15, the Dutch government will decide on the rules that will remain in place for the time being. In addition to the exceptions for public transport, this is also the obligation to work from home at least part-time.
The Netherlands has been eager to follow Denmark with the complete abolition of the corona restrictions. The corona measures have caused a lot of polarization among our northern neighbors.
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