The Netherlands will shut down society over Christmas and into January, Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The strict restrictions are being applied to slow the spread of the coronavirus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All bars, restaurants, cinemas, museums, theatres and all shops that are not deemed essential will be closed to customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The maximum number of guests over the age of 13 that people can invite to their homes will be reduced from four to two, except on Christmas Day. People will also be allowed to move around outdoors in groups of no more than two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201dIn short, you can say that the Netherlands will go back into lockdown,\u201d says Rutte.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A subdued Rutte added that he was sorry to have to make the announcement, describing the measures as \u201dinevitable\u201d due to the rapid spread of the omicron variant in the country and to prevent the healthcare system from collapsing under the pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201dNow we must intervene as a precautionary measure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lockdown will be in effect from Sunday until January 14. Schools will remain closed until at least January 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Head of infectious disease control Jaap van Dissel held a press conference where the announcement was made that it is expected that omicron will take over Delta as the dominant variant in the country before the New Year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the course of the pandemic, the Netherlands has been shaken by a long series of demonstrations, and even violent riots, against the introduction of restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Johns Hopkins University, approximately 74 percent of the population in the Netherlands is fully vaccinated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Source: TT<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Nederl\u00e4nderna st\u00e4nger ned samh\u00e4llet \u00f6ver julen och in i januari, meddelar premi\u00e4rminister Mark Rutte. De h\u00e5rda restriktionerna till\u00e4mpas f\u00f6r att bromsa spridningen av coronaviruset. Alla barer, restauranger,\u00a0biografer, museum, teatrar samt alla aff\u00e4rer som inte bed\u00f6ms som n\u00f6dv\u00e4ndiga kommer att h\u00e5llas st\u00e4ngda f\u00f6r kunder. Det h\u00f6gsta till\u00e5tna antalet g\u00e4ster \u00f6ver 13 \u00e5rs \u00e5lder som folk f\u00e5r […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[184],"tags":[422,3331,155],"class_list":["post-238857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-turism","tag-covid","tag-nederlanderna","tag-turism"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n