Employers organisation VNO-NCW has urged the government to relax the 1.5 metres social distancing rule in places which limited numbers of people will be able to visit if they have a negative coronavirus test result.

‘This month there will be a lot of experimenting with using fast coronavirus tests,’ chairwoman Ingrid Thijssen said in an interview with the Telegraaf. ‘So from next month, let us leave the 1.5 metre rule behind us. In the end, it is a question of daring to do so.’

The government has sanctioned a string of events in April, which will be open to limited numbers of people with a negative coronavirus tests. These include museums, football matches, zoos and the Keukenhof flower gardens.

Ministers are also working on plans to allow café terraces to reopen again, if the infection rate continues to slow.

Thijssen said that while the fast test is not 100% watertight, some risks should be taken. ‘If we bring in mass testing for students but only allow 20% of them to attend lectures, what are we actually gaining?’ she said.