The Dutch government reports in the past week that omikron is spreading very quickly in the Netherlands. The rapid increase in cases will lead to an increase in the number of coronavirus patients in hospitals and ICUs this year. This makes an overload of care in January increasingly real.
Because of the increased spread, the government decided that the Netherlands will go into a strict lockdown from Sunday 19 December to at least Friday 14 January 2022.
According to the ECDC, 123 Omicron cases have been reported in the Netherlands through Dec. 16.
Here are the rules spelled out:
- The following applies to everyone: Stay at home as much as possible and avoid crowds.
- Keep 1.5 meters away everywhere.
- Get home no more than two persons from 13 years per day. With the exception of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day and during the New Year. Then a maximum of 4 people from 13 years old per day applies .
- Visit a maximum of once a day.
- Outside there is a maximum group size of 2 people from 13 years old. People who live at 1 address are excluded from this.
- On Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day and at the turn of the year, the maximum outdoor group size will increase to 4 people from 13 years old.
- Education and out-of-school care are physically closed until at least 9 January. There are some exceptions. On January 3, the cabinet will decide on education from January 10.
- All catering is closed. Ordering and collection is possible.
- All non-essential shops are closed. It is possible to order, pick up and return.
- Essential shops, such as supermarkets and drugstores, are open until 8pm. A mask obligation applies here and a maximum of 1 visitor per 5 m2 meter.
- Excepted services such as gas stations, pharmacies, libraries, driving schools, the notary or lawyer are open.
- All non-medical contact professions, such as hairdressers and beauticians, are closed.
- Cinemas, museums, theaters and concert halls are closed.
- All indoor sports locations are closed (with the exception of swimming lessons). Outdoor sports venues remain open for all ages between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. For adults from 18 years old, sports are allowed outside with a maximum of 2 people 1.5 meters away. Children and young people up to the age of 17 can play sports outside and play matches at their own club.
- There is an event ban. Funerals with a maximum of 100 guests, weekly markets and professional sports competitions without an audience are excluded. Christmas markets are not allowed.
View the brief overview of all basic rules, measures, conditions and exceptions .
These measures are in addition to the measures and advice that already apply to everyone at the moment, such as the basic rules, the mask obligation, the advice to do a self-test before visiting others and the advice to work from home. People aged 70 and over are advised to limit their contacts as much as possible, including with children, and to keep 1.5 meters away from them.