Outgoing PM Rutte and Minister De Jonge will take to the podium again this evening
Translated by Thomas Ansell
Another Coronavirus press conference is to be held this evening, with the DVHN predicting that Coronavirus regulations will remain at their current strength. Trusty ‘Hague sources’ have said that the Dutch cabinet would be willing to open pub and restaurant terraces and allow physical education at university level if infection numbers fell- however that seems not to be the case.
Curfew
Whilst both Mark Rutte and Hugo De Jonge have said that the curfew would be the first regulation to be loosened in the event of infections falling, this is unlikely to occur before March 15.
Care homes
With the Dutch vaccination campaign now having reached over 1.5 million people, it is likely that those living in care homes will be able to receive two guests a day (if they are vaccinated with both shots).
Terraces
Though there have been reports from across the Netherlands of large groups breaking social distancing rules in parks and open spaces, the Dutch government is very unlikely to re-open pub and restaurant terraces.
Travel
The Dutch government has extended its ‘negative travel advice’ up to and including April 15. This applies for every country in the world.
Vaccine passports and quick-tests
Long been thought of as a clever solution to social distancing, having ‘vaccine passports’ and wide-scale quick testing could allow people more freedom in their daily lives. However whilst a plan is allegedly being worked on in the Hague, there would need to be a vast uptick in vaccinations for this to become a reality.
Elections
The Dutch elections are being held next week, and voting is being spread across three days to make sure that there aren’t any crowds forming at polling stations. During the three days of voting, the police have been asked not to give out Coronavirus fines for people breaking curfew to vote. You will need to show some proof of this when out and about after 21:00, though.
Ongoing press conferences
It is likely that we will all be treated to Mark Rutte’s face in HD every two weeks instead of every three weeks. This will mean that the next Coronavirus press conference will likely be held before a new Dutch government is sworn in.