Majority still support Dutch coronavirus measures, poll shows

A large majority of Dutch are still behind the government’s coronavirus measures despite assertions to the contrary, an I&O Research poll among 3,650 people has shown.

Although the crowded beaches of the last few days and the closing of a supermarket for repeatedly flouting the 1.5 rule have suggested otherwise, three quarters of voters said they supported the general approach of the government. However, supporters of the two far right parties PVV and FvD reject the government’s handling of the crisis.

The poll, which comes ahead of Wednesday’s debate on the government’s chosen strategy – based on frequent had washing, social distancing and self-isolation in case of symptoms – will reassure prime minister Mark Rutte and health minister Hugo de Jonge, I&O researcher Peter Kanne said.

‘There is some criticism but when all is said and done the cabinet is successfully manoeuvring between those critics who are saying too many, too few or wrong measures are being taken,’ I&O researcher Peter Kanne told the Volkskrant.

Labour leader Lodewijk Asscher’s assertion that the government ‘is losing control over the coronavirus crisis’ is supported by only 29% of voters. Almost seven in 10 said they disagreed or didn’t know.

The suggestion that youngsters are not taking the virus seriously is not borne out by the poll results either. Of the 18 to 24-year-olds questions, 72% said they were afraid of a second wave, compared with 64% of all respondents.

Face masks remain controversial, with 47% in favour of making them compulsory in all public spaces. The majority, 70%, said they would ‘definitely wear a mask’ if they were made compulsory.