Coronavirus press conference: curfew to remain in place until March 31, but kids can have swimming lessons!

Translated by Thomas Ansell

As reported by the NOS, the Dutch PM Mark Rutte and Public Health Minister Hugo de Jonge gave another Coronavirus press conference yesterday evening. The biggest announcements were that the current curfew (21:00-04:30) will remain until March 31, that children up to 12 years old can have swimming lessons from March 16, and that large shops will be able to let more clients in by appointment. Adults will also be able to participate in outside sport (with a maximum group size of 4).

Whilst plenty of people were hoping that the news would be as bright as De Jonge’s shoes, Rutte said that the announcements were “corrections and small adjustments”.

Unfortunately, there are still too many new infections each day for further relaxation of the rules, said Rutte and De Jonge, but once infection numbers come down a bit more the curfew will be the first regulation to be scrapped.

During the Dutch elections on 15, 16, and 17 March there will be curfew exceptions (so no fines for being on the street after 21:00) for those voting or volunteering at polling stations.

Shopping by appointment has been available in many stores since the beginning of this week, and from March 15 the number of people allowed inside shops by appointment will be raised depending on how large the shop is.

Terrace letdown

Not long before the press conference begun rumours circulated that pub and cafe terraces might be re-opened. Naturally, this turned out to be a letdown, with Rutte and De Jonge saying that only if the ‘R-rate’ drops below 1 and Intensive Care referrals stabilise will terraces be re-opened. This could happen on March 31, under various restrictions, and with various further caveats.

Physical education at Universities, visitors at home

From March 31 there is also the possibility of students returning to their colleges and universities for one day per week; this would also come in conjunction with the ‘home visits’ rule being relaxed to allow people to receive two people per day at home.

The next press conference is to be held on March 23, and at that point we’re likely to know who the PM will be for the next four years, too (it’s going to be Mark Rutte).

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