Amsterdam (AP) — The Netherlands moved to a tighter blockade Sunday announced during a spiked infection, even before recording the first confirmed case of a new, more infectious Omicron virus variant.
Bars, restaurants, unwanted shops, cinemas and theaters were in public places that were forced to close from 5 pm to 5 am under the new blockade.
Wilko Klippens, who runs the Biessels Cafe in Nijmegen’s Grotemarkt Square, said the recent blockade would eat up his savings even more.
“We’re going to keep all the staff. You know, they’re going to pay their rent and their education. Oh yeah, it’s up to us,” he said. .. “That is, the money we save for retirement is the money and rent we pay our staff.”
The restrictions came into effect hours after Health Minister Hu Ge de Jongge announced that at least 13 travelers arriving at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on Friday had tested positive for the new variant. He urged other travelers arriving from southern Africa last week to take the test as well.
“We appealed to everyone in southern Africa last week to report to local health authorities. Make another test appointment,” he said.
In the Netherlands, a series of record daily infections have been seen in recent weeks, and the previous partial blockade seems to have had little effect. Dutch hospitals warn that intensive care units can be overwhelmed by the weekend. The Dutch government requires that all unnecessary surgery, such as total hip arthroplasty, be postponed to release the ICU bed for COVID-19 patients.
De Jong-ge said it cannot be ruled out that further restrictions will be imposed by the time Christmas is reached.
Wilma van Kampen said he adhered to the blockade and hoped that the situation would not worsen.
“I’m a nurse. I know what a sick person will look like. I see many people suffering from COVID,” she said.
Heavy police gathered in the eastern city of Nijmegen last Sunday prior to a banned protest against the coronavirus. Police said they had arrested or refused several people while checking the roads leading to the city.
About a week ago, a coronavirus protest in the port city of Rotterdam turned into violence, and police threw rocks and fireworks at police officers, destroyed police cars, and fired at mobs who set fire on the streets of the city.
In Nijmegen on Sunday, Monique van Aken said he didn’t think the blockade would be the last.
“I think it’s happening all the time. It’s going to change, and we need to be prepared for it,” she said. “After this variant, a new variant will appear.”
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The Netherlands imposes a new and stricter blockade in spike infections | WGN Radio 720
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