There had been several rumors about the lockdown in the media before, and everyone was waiting for the press conference. Especially now that a new variant of the corona virus has recently surfaced that, according to an expert, is even more contagious. What everyone was already afraid of has become reality. This week it was decided by our cabinet that we will remain in lockdown until at least February 9th. Initially, the current lockdown would apply until January 19, which has now been extended. The number of Dutch people infected with the coronavirus is slightly decreasing, which means that the lockdown is having an effect. Due to the extension of the lockdown, the number of infections must decrease even more. This in turn should ensure that the number of patients in hospitals and intensive care falls. Even though they have started vaccinating in our country, we have to keep our contacts to a minimum for the time being so that the virus can spread less quickly. Staying at home is still the most urgent advice and if you do invite people there can be no more than two.

Working from home is still the urgent advice, while the rush during rush hours sometimes makes it seem different. This extension of the lockdown has far-reaching consequences for our society. There is during the press conference said that Minister Koolmees, Wiebes and Hoekstra are working on additions to the recovery and support package for entrepreneurs and workers, more will be announced next week. The schools will also remain closed until February 7 and distance education will continue, meaning for many parents that they have to bite a bit further. The OMT will look into whether primary education and childcare can be opened earlier. The advice also continues to apply not to travel abroad, this certainly applies up to and including March. Fierce discussions have arisen about the fact that dozens of flights from the United Kingdom arrive in the Netherlands every day, while in the United Kingdom the new corona virus is getting the upper hand, and the hospitals there are literally overflowing. The cabinet is busy discussing and examining whether a possible curfew would help to reduce the number of corona infections. Hopefully we will get better news at the next press conference.

Also read: England again in strict lockdown