The Dutch government is expected to announce a “strict” Christmas lockdown on Saturday, allowing only essential businesses to open amid concerns about the spread of the Omicron variant, Dutch media reports.
The government is meeting with health experts on Saturday to recommend the closure of all non-essential businesses, schools, bars, restaurants and other establishments that are open to the public.
Axel Dees, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health, told Reuters that the government would hold a press conference at 7 pm to announce the new measures. He did not want to give details about the content of these actions.
In downtown Leiden, about 20 miles[20 km]from The Hague, people thronged Main Street to finish their Christmas shopping.
Queues formed in front of toy shops and perfume shops.
“It’s usually busy before Christmas, but it’s much busier than usual.”, Ali Windster, manager of a perfume store, told Reuters.
Carla Neckemann is buying cosmetics at the store.
“It’s in this detention, I’m taking everything I can not find in a supermarket. I have to stand in queues everywhere.”, She said.
Last Tuesday, the government ordered the closure of most shops, bars and restaurants from 5pm to 5pm until January 14.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte It was then described as a variant Omicron May establish dominance in the Netherlands by January.
On Friday, the National Institutes of Public Health found 15,433 new Kovid-19 pollutants, down 25% from the previous week but at the highest level ever recorded.
This is new Wave of pollution The healthcare system caused by the Omicron variant can increase stress, which has already forced most selected operations to be postponed to accommodate patients. Kovid-19.
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