Mark Rutte will be holding another Coronavirus press conference this evening
Translated by Thomas Ansell
It looks likely that the curfew across the Netherlands is to be tweaked by the Dutch government to begin at 22:00, with the announcement to be made by outgoing/incoming PM Mark Rutte at tonights’ Coronavirus press conference. As reported by the NOS.
A large number of Mayors across the Netherlands are pushing the move, with outgoing Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus (the one that held a big, Coronavirus rule-breaking wedding last year) saying that the suggestion of a later curfew was to be ‘seriously considered’. The comments came following a meeting of the Veiligheidsberaad committee of Mayors.
The Mayors have allegedly made the suggestion to coincide with the coming of summer, with the days finally lengthening. At the beginning of April the Muslim festival of Ramadan will also be held; and fasting each day only finishes when the sun sets. Keeping the curfew at 21:00 could serve to accidentally criminalise those breaking the fast with their family, with Mayor Aboutaleb of Rotterdam highlighting that keeping a 21:00 curfew would cause huge pressure on observers.
Aside from this, Mayors suggested that a 22:00 curfew would be easier to manage, and better for council officers that have to patrol and enforce empty streets.
Whilst the move is being widely reported in the Netherlands, a final announcement will be made during the press conference this evening.
