Dutch PM Rutte imposes tough nationwidelockdown

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte imposed a tough new five-week nationwide lockdown on Monday. Rutte spoke from his office in The Hague.
Rutte said that of the 6,000 people in intensive care, the number under 50-years-old is two-and-a-half times larger than those over 80-years-old.

From Tuesday, all non-essential shops will close until January 19 along with businesses such as hair salons, museums and theatres. All schools and universities will have to switch to remote learning from Wednesday.

Child day-care centers will be closed to all except children of key workers. The government also urged people to receive a maximum of 2 guests per day, but relaxed the rule slightly for Dec. 24-26, saying 3 people can visit on those festive days. In the Netherlands, around 10,000 people are confirmed to have died of COVID-19 since the start of the outbreak.

Rutte said with vaccinations starting in the New Year, 2021 would be a year of light at the end of the tunnel.