The government took the decision to impose a tougher lockdown in the Netherlands on the recommendation of its own advisors who said action needed to be taken as soon as possible, official documents show.

The Outbreak Management Team presented unanimous advice to ministers, saying the current package of measures had to be extended ‘as soon as possible’ to reduce pressure on the healthcare sector and stop the partial lockdown requiring enforcement for months. The OMT advice was published on Monday evening.

The current situation was ‘unstable’ and there is ‘extreme unease’ about the steady rise in coronavirus cases over the past few days, the report said. The OMT also said it favoured tough measures to ensure ‘better adherence and enforcement’. Tougher measures would leave less room for discussion, the healthcare experts said.

Some 8.4 million people watched prime minister Mark Rutte give his second direct speech to the nation, making it the most watched television moment ever, excluding sports events.

During his speech, anti coronavirus measure campaigners kept up a noisy protest outside. Two were later arrested.

Schools

Health minister Hugo de Jonge told a television programme later on Monday evening that one reason ministers had agreed to close schools was to encourage parents to stay home.

‘Working from home has not being going so well recently,’ De Jonge said. The risk that by taking children to school parents were spreading the virus was also taken into account, the health minister told an NOS programme focusing on the new measures.

Vulnerable children and the children of workers in essential professions can still make use of schools and daycare facilities.