New Wave Of COVID-19 Infections Hits Record, Netherlands Imposes First Partial Lockdown In Western Europe

COVID-19 vaccination center in Leiden, Netherlands. (Wikimedia Commons/Vysotsky)

JAKARTA - The Netherlands will impose its first partial lockdown in Western Europe since the summer this weekend, in a bid to stop a spike in COVID-19 cases, Dutch broadcaster NOS said Friday.

Bars, restaurants and non-essential shops will be closed at 7pm. for at least three weeks starting Saturday, NOS said, citing government sources.

People will be urged to work from home as much as possible, and no spectators will be allowed at sporting events in the coming weeks. Schools, theaters and cinemas will remain open.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte's interim cabinet will take the final decision on Friday, and will announce the new measures during a press conference scheduled for 6pm Greenwich time, citing the Daily Sabah November 12.

New coronavirus infections in the nation of 17.5 million have risen rapidly, after social distancing measures were lifted late September, with new infections hitting a record around 16,300 in the last 24 on Thursday.

A new wave of infections has put pressure on hospitals across the country, forcing them to cut back on routine care to provide care and treatment for COVID-19 patients.

To contain the outbreak, the government's pandemic advisory panel on Thursday recommended imposing a partial lockdown, restricting entry to public places for people who have been fully vaccinated or have recently recovered from a coronavirus infection.

The new lockdown would mean a drastic change in policy for the Dutch government, which until last month thought that relatively high vaccination rates meant it could further ease measures towards the end of the year.

The Netherlands is not alone in considering strict containment measures, along with a surge in COVID-19 infections. Austria on Thursday was days away from placing millions of unvaccinated residents in lockdown.

However, many developed countries hold to the view that rolling out a COVID-19 vaccine means a lockdown is unnecessary, with the UK, for example, relying on booster shots to boost immunity.

It is important to note that around 85 per cent of the Dutch adult population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The booster shots have so far only been given to a small group of people, with weakened immune systems and will be offered to people aged 80 and over in December.

Last month, about 55 per cent of patients in Dutch hospitals and 70 per cent of those in intensive care were not vaccinated or only partially vaccinated, data provided by the Dutch Institute of Health (RIVM) showed.