The Dutch government on Friday restored Covid restrictions on nightclubs, music festivals and restaurants on Friday in a bid to stem the rise in coronavirus infections among young adults, BNR reported.
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–The Netherlands lifted most of the restrictive measures on 26 June, as there was a drop in COVID-19 cases. Meanwhile, approximately two-thirds of the country’s population has received one dose of one of the coronavirus vaccines. But as bars, restaurants and nightclubs reopened, new infections rose at the fastest pace in months, with nearly 7,000 cases reported in the last 24 hours, compared to less than 1,000 cases just a week earlier.
“Infections are growing very fast, partly because of the Delta variant,” said Prime Minister Mark Rutte. “Our goal is to control the virus, protect vulnerable groups and ensure that the health system is not flooded.”
Measures include early closure of cafes and restaurants and a return to social distancing and fixed venues for dinners or concert goers. All dance venues and nightclubs will be closed because it will be impossible to ensure social distance.
Festivals lasting several days will be canceled and large public gatherings will be limited to smaller groups, Rutte said. The restrictions will take effect early Saturday morning (July 10th) and will remain in place until August 14th, the government said. So far, however, the new surge in infections has not led to an increase in COVID-19 patients in hospitals. But Health Minister Hugo de Jong said the current low level of hospital admissions could be threatened by an “unprecedented” increase in COVID infections.
About three-quarters of new cases in the Netherlands are among young people, and more than half are from the more infectious variant Delta, which first appeared in India, the health minister said.
