LAST UPDATE: 14.05
The trade routes in the Netherlands are closed and the citizens’ plans for the Christmas holidays are in the air as the country is in a state of lockout with the aim of limiting the expected increase in the number of coronavirus cases caused by the spread of the Omicron variant.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced the surprise lockdown yesterday afternoon, enforcing the closure of unnecessary shops as well as restaurants, hairdressers, gyms, museums and other public places from today until at least January 14th.
The news shocked many Dutch people who were preparing for the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Many were those who rushed yesterday to get gifts and food but also to get a last minute haircut.
Hospitality workers are claiming compensation for lost profits during the holiday season, while gym owners are stressing the need for physical activity during a health crisis.
“Closing all the bars and restaurants in such an important month is extremely painful and dramatic. We need compensation and an exit strategy,” said the Dutch Hospitality Association.
All schools will be closed one week earlier for the Christmas holidays, ie tomorrow Monday, and will be closed until at least January 9, while households are required not to receive more than two visitors and outdoor gatherings are also limited to two. people.
The number of cases in the country has dropped from record levels in recent weeks after a night lockdown was imposed late last month.
But the cases due to the Omicron variant have increased rapidly since the beginning of December and this variation is expected to be the most prevalent by the end of the year.
This will be a serious blow to hospitals, which have been canceling regular care for weeks in an effort to avoid a shortage of hospital beds due to the high number of COVID-19 patients.
The government announced yesterday that it will speed up the release of booster doses of the vaccine after a slow start of the vaccination campaign and now aims to vaccinate anyone over 60 by the end of the month.
Although more than 85% of Dutch adults are vaccinated, less than 9% of adults have so far taken the third dose, one of the lowest rates in Europe.
Omicron mutations in Britain have tripled
The mayor of London spoke of a “major incident” due to the spread of the Omicron mutation. Outbreaks in the UK have tripled in one day, with Britain “almost certainly” suffering hundreds of thousands of daily infections from the new outbreak, experts say.
At the same time, Germany has tightened rules for travelers from Britain to include a mandatory 14-day quarantine. David Frost, the UK minister in charge of the post-Brexit negotiations, has said he opposes “coronary measures” for the coronavirus in his resignation letter, which follows reports that the government is considering a ban on household involvement. two weeks.
New restrictive measures against the spread of COVID-19 are inevitable, as without new restrictions, Britain will see the National Health System (NHS) collapse, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, told the BBC today.
Kahn declared a “state of emergency” yesterday to help London hospitals deal with the rise in COVID-19 infection caused by the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
“I think it’s inevitable,” Kahn told the BBC when asked about the possibility of new restrictive measures. “If we do not impose new restrictions as soon as possible, we will see more positive cases, but it is also possible that public health services, such as the NHS, will be on the verge of collapse if they do not collapse,” he warned.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is not politically powerless to impose further restrictive measures if needed, Health Minister Sajid Javid said today.
Johnson is facing the biggest crisis in his term as prime minister to date after a series of scandals and mistakes, and earlier in the week more than 100 members of his Conservative party voted against the latest government measures to stem the coronavirus pandemic.
Asked by BBC television if Johnson was too weak to impose more restrictions, Javid replied: “No, I do not think that is the case … if the government considers that more measures are needed, of course, and we will put it before parliament and is what he will decide “.
Biden’s message on Tuesday – Cases are on the rise in Australia
President Joe Biden, in a message to the people of the United States on Tuesday, is expected to speak out about the dangers of being vaccinated, while the Omicron mutation continues to spread in the country.
New York State reported 21,908 cases on Saturday, setting a new record for the second day in a row, Governor Kathy Hotsul said in a statement.
The daily toll in New York City was 5,263, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Twitter.
Nationwide hospitalizations, which generally do not rise as fast as infections, rose 70 on Saturday to 3,909. Of the 290,930 people tested, 7.53% were positive for the virus.
Australia’s largest state reported a record 2,566 cases on Sunday, including hundreds of Omicron mutations.
Italy: New measures at Christmas
Immediately after Christmas, new, stricter measures are likely to be taken to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Italian media, according to what APE-MPE broadcasts.
On the 23rd of the month, the Italian prime minister is going to meet the leaders of the parties that support the government, to jointly assess the whole situation, based on the new data regarding the spread of the omicron variant.
The newspaper La Repubblica writes that compulsory vaccination, in particular, can be extended to citizens who are in constant contact with the public. Until now, education workers, health workers, police, the military and carabinieri have been required to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
At the same time, the reduction of the validity of the “vaccinated green pass” from nine to six months is being considered.
Meanwhile, 28,064 coronavirus cases have been reported in the country today and 123 people have died. In total, 697,740 diagnostic tests were performed, 4% of which were positive.
There are 953 patients with the virus in the intensive care units, while there are 7,576 patients in the hospital wards.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, in Italy the infections are 5,364,852 and 135,544 people have lost their lives.
.
Source From: Capital

Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.