Despite rising numbers of cases, Netherlands to ease restrictions

The Dutch government has announced that, starting of Wednesday, it will relax its Covid-19 regulations, which are among the tightest in Europe.

Since the 18th of December, all Dutch hospitality establishments, including pubs, restaurants, and museums, have been closed in an effort to stop the spread of the Omicron strain.

Despite the restrictions, Covid-19 cases have continued to rise, with an average of 60,000 cases every day currently.

At a press conference, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the Netherlands was "taking a risk" by loosening the limits.

Mr Rutte noted that the new limitations will be in effect until March 8, despite mounting calls for a relaxation of restrictions in recent weeks due to a drop in deaths and intensive care admissions.

Cafes, bars, and restaurants will be permitted to stay open until 10 p.m., but patrons will need to present a negative test result, proof of vaccination, or proof of recovery from a coronavirus illness to gain entrance.

Nightclubs will be closed, and sporting and cultural events will have a maximum capacity of 1,250 people.

The reopening comes after a wave of dissatisfaction among many hospitality workers, who were dissatisfied by the government's decision to allow shops, gyms, hairdressers, and sex workers to return on January 15 while their industry remained closed.

In defiance of the limitations, cafes opened in numerous cities the weekend before last, while dozens of museums and theaters turned into beauty salons for a day in protest.

Over the last month, public support for the severe measures has dwindled rapidly, and big protests against the laws have become increasingly common in Amsterdam, the Dutch city.

During his press conference, Mr Rutte alluded to the fury, saying that the government was "consciously looking for the boundaries of what is possible, because of the huge tensions and pleas for help in recent days."

Meanwhile, Health Minister Ernst Kuipers cautioned that the virus is "not the flu," but emphasised the importance of loosening the restrictions.

"Living longer under limited conditions is harmful to our health and society," he stated.

New coronavirus cases have continued to rise despite the stringent limits. The National Institute for Health (RIVM) recorded a new high of 366,120 cases for the previous week on Tuesday, up 51% over the previous week.

In the Netherlands, about 90% of the population has been vaccinated.

However, the country lags behind its western European neighbours in the implementation of its booster immunisation programme, with only 57 percent of those registering for the shot.