Ministers meet to discuss coronavirus situation, decide on new measures

Health minister Hugo de Jonge on his way to the talks. Photo: Bart Maat ANP
Health minister Hugo de Jonge on his way to the talks. Photo: Bart Maat ANP

Ministers are meeting at the prime minister’s official Catshuis residence on Friday to discuss new measures to combat the spread of coronavirus.

The government’s Outbreak Management Team delivered its recommendations on Thursday and it now seems unlikely that people who have not been vaccinated will be singled out for specific new rules, insiders say.

Nevertheless, some tightening up of the current rules is likely, given that hospitalisations are going up on a daily basis. Over 900 people are currently being treated in hospital, while the daily coronavirus infection rate is also increasing steadily.

Earlier this week, health minister Hugo de Jonge refused to speculate about what ministers will introduce, but did say he would not rule out special measures for the unvaccinated.

The epidemic, he said, is increasingly becoming an epidemic among those who have not been jabbed. They are, he said, infecting each other and running the biggest risk of ending up in hospital.

More meetings in the Catshuis are scheduled for the weekend, including with both mayors and regional safety board chiefs.

Rutte and De Jonge will hold a press conference on Tuesday evening to announce what measures are being taken.

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