Covid-19 surge in Europe: Netherlands imposes partial lockdown

The Netherlands has become the first western European country to impose a partial lockdown since this summer, introducing strict new measures from Saturday in the face of record numbers of new Covid-19 infections.

The restrictions, due to be announced by the prime minister, Mark Rutte, are set to last at least three weeks. The restrictions are likely to include the closure of bars, restaurants and non-essential shops from 7pm.

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The lockdown would be longer than the 14 days recommended this week by the government’s outbreak management team, which also advised limiting entry to public places strictly to those who are fully vaccinated or have recently recovered.

Currently, people who can show a recent negative coronavirus test are also allowed entry to certain public places.

The moves comes at a time of record numbers of new cases in the Netherlands, which abandoned most preventive measures in late September – although the government made face masks mandatory in shops and other public venues again last weekend.

Europe is once again seeing a hike in Covid-19 cases, as it accounts for more than half of the seven-day global average. Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Austria are a few countries facing a fresh wave of Covid-19 cases.