AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The Netherlands will soften COVID-19’s closing measures next week, allowing bars and restaurants to serve indoors and museums will reopen what Prime Minister Mark Rutte called a “calculated risk” on Friday.
“We went from closed, unless, open, unless,” he told reporters.
Infections have been reduced by more than one part in the following month as the launch of COVID-19 vaccines accelerates, allowing for greater relaxation of blockade, which has been in place in stages for approximately 8 months.
Previous steps in recent weeks have allowed the best schools to reopen and serve food and drinks on the terraces until 8 p. m.
Bars and restaurants will now also be able to serve consumers indoors and will remain open until 10 p. m,” Rutte said.
At home, other people will get 4 visitors at a time, compared to the two that are currently there.
Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said the drop in infections is basically due to vaccines.
“Almost some of other people over the age of 18 had their first blow,” De Jonge said.
The government also announced that if infections are at existing levels, additional restrictions will be lifted on June 30.
From this date sports matches will be allowed, restaurants will be able to serve up to a hundred people and will remain open until midnight, at home, other people will be able to receive up to 8 diners.
There is bad news for Dutch football enthusiasts: the giant indoor and outdoor screens that appear at the European Championships, which begin on June 11, are expressly banned.
(Information through Bart Meijer and Stephanie van den Berg; Editing via Chris Reese and Nick Macfie)