Dutch prime minister to hold coronavirus press conference on Tuesday evening

Prime minister Mark Rutte and health minister Hugo de Jonge will hold a televised news conference on Tuesday evening to outline the latest developments in efforts to keep coronavirus under control.

It is just over six months since the first coronavirus case was confirmed in the Netherlands and the public health institute RIVM is due to give its latest weekly update on Tuesday afternoon.

Figures from the second half of July do indicate that efforts to spread the surge in positive test results are beginning to have an impact. Nevertheless, on Monday, the government’s coronavirus dashboard showed the number of positive tests had risen by 527 overnight. Testing has also increased rapidly, leading to delays in some places.

Rutte and De Jonge are also expected to say if, and when, nightclubs may be able to reopen. In June, clubs were given a provisional start date of September 1 but experts expect this will be postponed because of the rise in cases, particularly among people in their 20s.

The ministers may also comment on the rules surrounding the reopening of football stadiums, in particular the ban on singing and chanting, broadcaster NOS said. The domestic season starts later this month and Oranje has two friendlies in the coming days.

The press conference will be broadcast live on NOS television from 7pm and DutchNews.nl will be live-tweeting the event.