Government advisers called for “urgent action” as the coronavirus case progressed

The cafe is closed. Photo: Dutch News.nl

Official documents show that the government decided to impose a strict lockdown in the Netherlands on the recommendation of its own advisers, who said action needed to be taken soon, official documents show.

The outbreak management team, while presenting a unanimous advice to the ministers, said the current package of measures would have to be extended ‘as soon as possible’ to reduce the pressure on the healthcare sector and prevent a partial lockdown that would require months of implementation. The OMT advice was published Monday evening.

The current situation was ‘volatile’ and there has been ‘extreme uneasiness’ over the steady increase in cases of coronavirus in the last few days, the report said. The OMTA also said that strict measures have been favored to ensure ‘better compliance and implementation’. Stricter measures will leave less residue for discussion, health experts said.

Nearly 4.4 million people watched Prime Minister Mark Rutte deliver his second live speech to the nation, excluding sports programs, the most watched television moment ever.

During his speech, preachers measuring anti-coronavirus protested loudly outside. Both were later arrested.

Schools

Health Minister Hugo de Jones said in a television program on Monday evening that one reason the ministers agreed to keep schools closed was to encourage parents to stay home.

“Working from home hasn’t been that good lately,” De Jones said. The risk of the virus spreading to the children’s school parents was also taken into consideration, the health minister said, focusing on the new measures. Told the program.

Children of vulnerable children and workers in essential occupations can still use schools and day care facilities.