“Groningen should be first city in the Netherlands to open terraces safely with the use of new technology”
The youth-wing of Mark Rutte’s party in Groningen, the JOVD Groningen, has called for a trial to be carried out into reopen terraces to the public, using technology to ensure that the terraces are COVID-safe. According to the proposal, Groningen could be an example for the rest of the Netherlands, says the JOVD, reports the GIC.
The budding politicians are calling on the Groningen Safety Region, the municipality of Groningen and the Groningen department of Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (KHN) to collaborate and work on the trial with safe terrace visits in Groningen.
Chairman Tom Boer: “Of course we want the infection figures to remain low, but we cannot stand still as a society. That is why we want to investigate what is possible. ”
Currently, the national health committee the OMT has advised keeping the catering industry closed due to a likely ‘third wave’ of the virus. However, the JOVD Groningen is of the opinion that by using new technology, it should be possible to safely make a terrace visit possible. Boer: “We could, for example, use rapid tests or the new breathalyzer tests, as is done in Amsterdam.”
The youth parliamentarians say that opening the terraces will also reduce the crowds in places like the Noorderplantsoen.
