As the Netherlands eagerly awaits tonight’s 7 PM press conference addressing new coronavirus measures, the Outbreak Management Team’s (OMT) recommendations and the government’s pre-conference tension offers a glimpse of what’s coming.

While the Dutch OMT are against closing the education sector, they seem to have other thoughts about restaurants, cafes, theatres, hairdressers, zoos, and cinemas, among others, according to the NOS.

We can’t help but wonder if it’s time to get a pre-lockdown haircut as these non-essential businesses may become deemed ‘transfer locations’ — which should close at 5 PM according to the OMT. 💈

On the other hand, RTL Nieuws reports some panic in the Dutch government as the coronavirus numbers continue to rise after the last round of lite lockdown measures in the Netherlands. The government seems to want to avoid releasing half-baked plans at this point and being accused of doing too little (once again).

Option 1: Shut it all down

Yes, including schools. While this plan would align more with the stricter vision of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge, the education ministers are strongly against closing the schools — especially seeing as it goes against the OMT’s advice.

A complete lockdown would also affect shops and businesses in addition to schools. We’re talking about the beginning of coronavirus days, the pre-vaccine era — or, in other words, this time last year.

Option 2: Evening lockdown

With this possibility, schools would remain open as the OMT recommends, however, non-essential shops, restaurants, and gyms would close at 5 PM, while supermarkets will probably continue to close at 8 PM.

Additionally, a group gatherings risk having their numbers further reduced.

Naturally, behind closed doors, the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs is fighting a battle to keep the shops and the catering industry open for as long as possible.

Curious about this evening’s measures? We’ll be covering all of the latest measures in English in an article directly after the press conference.

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With potential new measures on the horizon, there’s been talk about whether schools should close their doors or not. The Outbreak Management Team (OMT) has advised the cabinet to keep the education sector open.

According to the NOS, MPs are discussing potential new measures in the Cathuis this afternoon as a response to the record number of rising coronavirus infections and a potential code black scenario.

Some of these measures include possibly shutting down schools, gyms, hairdressers, and other businesses.

OMT advice

However, the OMT has advised the cabinet against shutting down schools, despite the high number of infections in educational institutions.

They believe that doing so would have harmful effects on students. 👩🏼‍🎓

The cabinet must still decide whether they will listen to the OMT’s advice or enforce the closure of schools anyway.

Looming press conference

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge will give a press conference tomorrow evening at 19:00 announcing the potential new measures.

What do you think about the possible new measures and the OMT’s advice? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

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Whilst certain cabinet members are of the opinion that a code black scenario is a distant worry, the situation in Zuyderland hospital in South Limburg tells a different story.

The hospital is now under so much pressure that it has asked its employees who are sick with coronavirus to continue working, the NOS reports.

An absoulte emergency measure

Speaking to Nieuwsuur, Hospital director, David Jongen explains that this is an “absolute emergency measure.” Employees who have tested positive for coronavirus but have little or no symptoms are being asked to remain working.

READ MORE | Weekly update: 153,000 infections in one week, could this mean lockdown?

Speaking on whether the hospitals can face a code black situation, Jongen says that “whether it turns code black or brown, it doesn’t matter. We would just have to close the doors, we wouldn’t be able to do it anymore.”

Planned care to be cancelled

Last night, it was also announced that a large part of planned care in the Netherlands will be cancelled for the time being. This will be for a short term only and surgeries that do not require the patient to stay in a hospital bed can continue.

However, in Limburg, the NRC reports that even serious planned care will have to be temporarily cancelled. What counts as serious? Think cancer, brain and heart surgery.

Stay safe out there guys — and remember, if your nose is runny or your throat’s a bit scratchy, try to stay home, build a pillow fort, test yourself, and binge your favourite show.

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With the Netherlands hitting a record number of new infections in one week, the Dutch government has decided to reinstitute the 1,5 metres rule.

Starting today, the streetscape will once again be dominated by stickers reminding you to keep anderhalve meters afstand (one and a half metres distance). As social distancing goes from being urgent advice to a mandatory measure, not adhering will get you a €95 fine, reports NU.nl.

The new measure was announced by the cabinet yesterday “to reduce the sharp increase in the number of corona infections and to prevent further overload on healthcare.”

Exceptions

Unlike last year’s strict measures, this round of social distancing is subject to a (greater) number of exceptions.

You don’t have to keep 1,5 metres distance from your housemates, spouse, children, or anyone else you may share an address with. (Unless you really want to of course. 🤷‍♀️)

READ MORE | Privacy violation: camera cars used to track lockdown breakers

In addition, social distancing isn’t mandatory in places where corona tickets apply. So, if you’ve shown your QR code, you’re fine we guess. Higher and secondary education are also exempt from the rule along with contact professionals, such as hairdressers.

Just don’t forget to bring your mask. 😷

Shops and police need time to adjust

A spokesperson from the trade association INretail tells NU.nl that retailers will adhere to the new measure but need time to set up. Reinstituting the 1,5 metres mandate overnight hasn’t exactly left shops much time to haul in stickers, reorganise aisles, and plan out walking routes. 😅

Although INretail has urged its members to uphold social distancing for weeks, you may see some shops struggling with the new measures today. According to the spokesperson, getting everything ready is especially a challenge for businesses with multiple or large stores.

Similarly, the president of the police union ACP says that due to current “understaffing” law enforcement won’t be able to properly enforce the 1,5 metres distancing immediately. Eventually, he hopes to have more people to enforce the measures. 

What do you think of mandatory social distancing? Tell us in the comments below!

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