The Hague: Netherlands will go into “lockdown” Christmas period of trying to stop the growth of omicron coronavirus version, dutch prime minister Mark Rutte Said Saturday.
Root said all non-essential shops, restaurants, bars, cinemas, museums and theaters must close from Sunday until January 14, while schools must remain closed until at least January 9.
People are now allowed only two guests at home, except during the Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, December 26 and New Year’s periods when four guests are allowed.
“I stand here tonight in a sad mood,” Rutte said in a televised press conference.
“To sum it up in one sentence, the Netherlands will go back into lockdown from tomorrow.
“With the fifth wave it is inevitable and Omicron is spreading faster than we feared. We must intervene now as a precaution.”
Jaap van Diesel, head of the Dutch outbreak management team, said the Omicron strain would soon overtake the delta variant in the Netherlands.
“The Omicron version will go into effect between Christmas and the end of the year,” van Diesel said at the news conference.
The scientist warned that if Omicron’s effect is as strong as Delta, it could exceed those hospitalized in the first wave of the disease in early 2020.
“We know that the variant can outweigh the protection built up from previous infections or previous vaccinations, especially if that was some time ago,” he said.
Rutte’s announcement came after an emergency cabinet meeting, and four days after the government extended its previous measures and announced that schools would start their holidays earlier.
Long queues formed outside stores early Saturday as people rushed to shop for Christmas at the last minute after reports of the new measures emerged.
“It’s very busy, but I’m coming to pick up presents before the Christmas holidays, it looks like a new lockdown is coming,” Ayman Masori, 19, told AFP in The Hague.
Rutte, who earlier this week reached a coalition agreement that would give him a fourth term as prime minister, acknowledged the impact on the national mood during the festive period.
“Now I can hear the sighs of the whole Netherlands. It’s just a week before Christmas, another Christmas completely different from what we want,” Rutte said.
But he insisted that “Omicron is forcing us to limit our number of contacts as quickly as possible, and that is why the Netherlands will be locked down,” he said.
Dutch COVID restrictions have led to a 21 percent drop in infections in the week from 7-14 December, according to official health authority figures.
The Netherlands also reported a “slight drop” in hospital admissions, but officials insisted Omicron still had “cause for concern”.
About 86 percent of all adults in the Netherlands have been vaccinated.
But the Dutch booster campaign has been slow to take off, and the health minister hugo de jong Said that all people above the age of 18 will now get invitation till January 7.
The Netherlands eased most social distancing measures in September, but by November infections were back at a record high of more than 20,000 a day.
The restrictions have been unpopular, with riots erupting in Rotterdam, The Hague and other cities in late November.
Root said all non-essential shops, restaurants, bars, cinemas, museums and theaters must close from Sunday until January 14, while schools must remain closed until at least January 9.
People are now allowed only two guests at home, except during the Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, December 26 and New Year’s periods when four guests are allowed.
“I stand here tonight in a sad mood,” Rutte said in a televised press conference.
“To sum it up in one sentence, the Netherlands will go back into lockdown from tomorrow.
“With the fifth wave it is inevitable and Omicron is spreading faster than we feared. We must intervene now as a precaution.”
Jaap van Diesel, head of the Dutch outbreak management team, said the Omicron strain would soon overtake the delta variant in the Netherlands.
“The Omicron version will go into effect between Christmas and the end of the year,” van Diesel said at the news conference.
The scientist warned that if Omicron’s effect is as strong as Delta, it could exceed those hospitalized in the first wave of the disease in early 2020.
“We know that the variant can outweigh the protection built up from previous infections or previous vaccinations, especially if that was some time ago,” he said.
Rutte’s announcement came after an emergency cabinet meeting, and four days after the government extended its previous measures and announced that schools would start their holidays earlier.
Long queues formed outside stores early Saturday as people rushed to shop for Christmas at the last minute after reports of the new measures emerged.
“It’s very busy, but I’m coming to pick up presents before the Christmas holidays, it looks like a new lockdown is coming,” Ayman Masori, 19, told AFP in The Hague.
Rutte, who earlier this week reached a coalition agreement that would give him a fourth term as prime minister, acknowledged the impact on the national mood during the festive period.
“Now I can hear the sighs of the whole Netherlands. It’s just a week before Christmas, another Christmas completely different from what we want,” Rutte said.
But he insisted that “Omicron is forcing us to limit our number of contacts as quickly as possible, and that is why the Netherlands will be locked down,” he said.
Dutch COVID restrictions have led to a 21 percent drop in infections in the week from 7-14 December, according to official health authority figures.
The Netherlands also reported a “slight drop” in hospital admissions, but officials insisted Omicron still had “cause for concern”.
About 86 percent of all adults in the Netherlands have been vaccinated.
But the Dutch booster campaign has been slow to take off, and the health minister hugo de jong Said that all people above the age of 18 will now get invitation till January 7.
The Netherlands eased most social distancing measures in September, but by November infections were back at a record high of more than 20,000 a day.
The restrictions have been unpopular, with riots erupting in Rotterdam, The Hague and other cities in late November.
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