The Prime Minister announced on Monday that the Dutch government would impose further corona virus restrictions and close most of the Netherlands over the holidays starting on Tuesday.
During a televised conference with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the Netherlands launched a five-week nationwide strike that would close schools, essential businesses, museums and gyms The Associated Press reported. The lock-up will last until midnight on January 19th.
When Rutte made the announcement, protesters condemned the decision and blew the whistle outside.
“We have to bite through this sour apple before things get better,” Root said during his speech.
“The truth is, we’m not dealing with an innocent flu, some people still think like protesters on the outside, but with a virus that can hit anyone hard,” he said.
Essential businesses, including hair salons, museums and theaters, will be closed on Tuesday, while schools and universities will have to switch to distance learning by Wednesday.
These restrictions restrict the presence of two guests over the age of 13 per day, although the rules will be relaxed from December 24 to 26 to allow three guests over the age of 13 due to the holiday.
The announcement sparked taxes on essential businesses as many tried to squeeze in before Christmas shopping stopped.
The Netherlands closed bars and restaurants for individual customers in mid-October, although many continue to offer takeouts, which initially reduced the infection rate before climbing.
The seven-day average for new daily cases in the country rose from 29.22 per 100,000 on November 29 to 47.47 per 100,000 on Sunday. In all, the Netherlands has confirmed more than 632,000 cases and 10,168 deaths since the onset of the epidemic. Johns Hopkins University.
The Dutch prime minister’s announcement comes a day after German officials announced that shops would be closed from Wednesday until at least January 10. Germany has encouraged its residents not to go Christmas shopping amid rising cases and new restrictions.