With evenings getting shorter and Summer Time in place, the Coronavirus curfew has been moved to begin an hour later
By Thomas Ansell
As announced in last week’s Coronavirus press conference by Dutch PM Mark Rutte, from today (March 31) the Coronavirus curfew in the Netherlands will enter force later in the evening. From tonight people may not be outside of their house between 22:00 and 04:30. The change has been made due to the clocks having changed over the weekend, with later sunsets as a result. Anyone outside after 22:00 and before 04:30 must have either a self-declaration or an employers declaration to explain their reasons for not being home. A 95 euro fine is still in place for those that break curfew.
The Dutch government decided against major changes to any other regulations; with 5,909 new confirmed cases yesterday (down from a peak of over 8,500 new cases on Saturday last week), it is thought that the Coronavirus is still severe enough to require a lockdown.
Essential shops will now be able to stay open until 21:45, though there is still to be no sale of alcohol past 20:00. All regulations have been extended until at least April 20, although another press conference will be held on April 13 for updates from PM Rutte.
Quick tests in pharmacies
As reported by the NOS, Coronavirus quick tests will be available in pharmacies from today, with results in around 15 minutes. The tests cost 8.95 euros, and are intended for use when people have been around large groups; for example at school or when home working is impossible. It is intended that soon supermarkets and non-medical pharmacies will be stocked with tests, too.
Pharmacist Anne-Marie Prins-Jacobs gave the following instructions for the tests: “hold you head steady, then put the swab about two centimetres up your nose. Then swab around the nose four times and repeat with the other nostril. You need to swab for about 15 seconds for the most accurate results. Then put the swab into the small plastic case filled with fluid and gently rotate so the swab comes into contact with the fluid. Then take out the swab and swipe it over a testing plate.” Fifteen minutes later you’ll know your result- with around 84 percent accuracy.