Netherlands goes for a five-week lockdown

The Netherlands is headed for its strictest lockdown since the
pandemic began in light of a continued spike in number of the COVID-19 cases in
the country, AFP reported on Monday.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte, in a televised address, announced
a five-week lockdown– the country’s most stringent ever.

The announcement came as protesters raised slogans outside
his office against the lockdown.

“The Netherlands will close for five weeks,” said
Rutte. “We’re not dealing with a simple flu like the people behind us think,”
he added in a reference to the noisy demonstrators, AFP wrote.

All shops in the Netherlands except essential outlets like
supermarkets, food stores and pharmacists must shut from Tuesday until January
19, while schools will close from Wednesday, he added.

People were advised to stay at home and can have a maximum
of two guests a day, except for Christmas Day when they may have three, Rutte
said.

Museums, zoos, cinemas and gyms must also close, the prime
minister added.

But cannabis “coffeeshops” and restaurants can
both stay open for takeaway service, he said.

“We need to bite this very sour apple before things get
better. And yes they will get better. There will come a time when coronavirus
will be behind us, when our lives will be normal again,” Rutte said.

“It won’t be now, or in a week, or a month. But with
the vaccine, 2021 will indeed be a year of hope and of light at the end of the
tunnel.”

This was only the second televised address by the Dutch
Prime Minister since the pandemic began. He has mostly relied upon conducting informal
chats with media during the period.

Rutte said he didn’t hope that he would have to make a similar
address as the one he delivered in March, when the country announced its first and
laxer lockdown.

The PM also advised travellers from neighbouring nations to
avoid coming to the country, and instructed locals from venturing into other
countries.

The number of infections in the Netherlands is nearing
10,000 a day while the overall death toll during the pandemic passed 10,000 at
the weekend.