The cabinet wants to get rid of almost all corona measures from next Friday. This was announced by Minister Kuipers of Health during the corona press conference tonight.
Most measures will expire on 25 February, i.e. next Friday. Only a number of basic advice, such as no shaking hands, hygiene, ventilation and testing in case of complaints, remain. Face masks hardly need to be worn anymore, except in public transport, and it is no longer necessary to keep a distance of one and a half meters. The normal closing times also apply in the catering and cultural sector.
The corona ticket is no longer necessary for the time being from next Friday. A 1G policy will only apply for indoor meetings, without a fixed seat and with more than 500 people. This means that access can be granted when a negative test result is shown. It does not matter whether someone is vaccinated or not.
In addition, a number of relaxations will take effect immediately. The advice to work from home as much as possible is partly cancelled: the advice is to do half of the working time from home. There is also no maximum number of people that can be received at home.
Next Friday still intermediate step
Prior to February 25, there is another ‘intermediate step’, which will be taken next Friday. The catering industry and locations that fall within the cultural sector, such as theaters, museums and cinemas, may then remain open until 1 am. Now they have to close the doors at 10 p.m. Clubs from the Eredivisie and Kitchen Champion Division are allowed to play football again in a full stadium from next weekend. The corona pass will remain in use until Friday 25 February.
The mask obligation will continue to apply in public transport and at airports even after 25 February. On March 15, there will be a new ‘weighing moment’ by the cabinet, where it will be decided how to proceed with the corona policy.
The isolation rules are also being overhauled. The duration of this will be shortened from a minimum of seven days to five days (if 24 hours without complaints).
‘Exciting times’
Kuipers said he does take into account the vulnerable. According to him, an “exciting time” is coming for people in risk groups. “They must remain extra careful, and others must take them into account,” said the minister. “The chance that you will become infected is high, so is the chance that you will transmit the virus to someone in vulnerable health.”
Nevertheless, the minister was pleased that more is possible. The coronavirus and the measures taken by the cabinet to limit its spread “sometimes divided us to the bone”, he said. “But we are now in a new phase.” As a result, other interests can also be weighed heavily, according to the minister: “Young people must be able to spread their wings, we must be able to enjoy sports again. We crave culture and nightlife.”