Euro
The Netherlands is back to a nationwide lockdown starting Sunday to curb the Omicron variant, caretaker prime minister Mark Rutte said after a meeting with his government to discuss new restrictions.
“I am here tonight in a sombre mood,” Rutte said during a televised press conference. “To sum it up in one sentence, the Netherlands is going into lockdown again from tomorrow.”
He added that the move was “unavoidable because of the fifth wave caused by the Omicron variant that is bearing down on us.”
Rutte admitted that the news was not what people were hoping for at Christmas. “So yes, a disappointing but perhaps not very big surprise,” he said.
Elementary schools were ordered to close a week early for Christmas holidays until January 14.
Young children registered the steepest rises in infections in a recent coronavirus surge in the Netherlands.
Bars, restaurants, and other public meeting places such as theatres and cinemas have been shutting their doors at 5 pm since November 28 and will now have to continue through the holiday season.
Residents will be permitted only up to two visitors except for Christmas and New Year’s, when four will be allowed, caretaker PM explained.
