The cabinet has decided not to anchor the corona pass in the Temporary Covid-19 Measures Act. Minister Ernst Kuipers (Public Health, D66) said this on Friday after the Council of Ministers. The cabinet hopes that the Senate, a majority of senators is critical of the corona pass, will agree to the extension. Kuipers will send a letter about the decision to parliament next week, a spokesperson said NRC†
The corona admission ticket will therefore no longer be included in the sixth extension of the law, which should take effect on June 1. “The toolbox is getting emptier,” said a ministry spokesman, referring to a more limited number of options to intervene in the event of a resurgence of the virus. Nevertheless, the cabinet considers it important that the Senate agrees to the sixth extension.
Also read: Kuipers threatens to become a paralyzed corona minister
Almost all parties in parliament oppose the corona pass, with the exception of VVD, CDA and D66. Last week, only the coalition parties voted in the House of Representatives for the fifth extension, which took effect on March 1. No opposition party voted in favour. After the May recess, the Senate will debate the fifth and sixth extension of the temporary corona law.
The Council of State, the government’s main adviser, previously stated that the temporary corona law cannot simply be extended, because there must be a direct threat from the epidemic. The Council wrote again on Thursday that the cabinet must provide better reasons for the now sixth extension. But the cabinet wants to keep its “main vehicle” afloat until the amendment of the Public Health Act is finalized.