Netherlands announces partial lockdown as cases surge past 16,000 a day

A European nation that vowed Covid-19 lockdowns would be a thing of the past has backflipped after cases soared to more than 16,000 a day.

A European nation that vowed Covid-19 lockdowns would be a thing of the past has backflipped after cases soared to more than 16,000 a day for two days in a row.

A European nation that vowed Covid-19 lockdowns would be a thing of the past has backflipped after cases soared to more than 16,000 a day for two days in a row.

As of Saturday night, the Netherlands, following an announcement from Prime Minister Mark Rutte, will be plunged into a three-week partial lockdown.

Mr Rutte described it as “a very unpleasant message with very unpleasant and far-reaching decisions” but that it was necessary to “deliver a hard blow to the virus”.

The new restrictions are not a hard lockdown; shops and restaurants will stay open but must adhere to curfews as well as social distancing and vaccine certificates while four guests are still allowed in the home. Cinemas and theatres will remain fully open.

The country of nearly 18 million is at nearly 85 per cent fully-vaccinated among its adult population.

Protesters march through The Hague city centre, with flags, banners, horns and loudspeakers denouncing new government Covid-19 measures. Picture: Charles M. Vella/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

However, the Netherlands ditched most restrictions on September 15 when it had only achieved a 77 per cent vaccination rate among eligible adults. It dumped social distancing and functioned as normal, albeit with vaccine certificates required for entry into most places.

The Saturday announcement makes it the first Western European country to descend back into lockdown for the winter.

Other European countries are following similar trajectories, however, with Denmark and Austria also having to reintroduce restrictions to some parts of society.

Clashes erupt between anti-lockdown protesters and anti-riot forces as the Dutch government announce new measures to counter a new wave of Covid-19 virus infections. Picture: Pierre Crom/Getty Images

Dutch protesters took to the streets following Mr Rutte’s announcement, with police having to fire water cannons after some members in the crowd threw stones and fireworks at them, according to the BBC.

Mr Rutte also said a World Cup round would still be held but without live spectators.

The country is also trying to roll out a booster shot program, which was meant to start in December but will now begin from next week.

A flare burns on a barricade of bicycles built by anti-vaxxers and anti-lockdown protesters on November 12, 2021 in The Hague, Netherlands. Picture: Pierre Crom/Getty Images

Another nearby nation, Austria, has been forced to reintroduce lockdown measures as well due to Covid cases rising to 11,000 a day.

From Monday, two hard-hit provinces, Upper Austria and Salzburg, will be locked down for anyone who is unvaccinated.

Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg earlier signposted that locking down unvaccinated people was “probably inevitable”, arguing “two-thirds of people should not suffer because others were hesitant”.

Vaccine rates are at 65 per cent in Austria.

Over in Denmark, a Covid-19 certificate that had been ditched in September has now been reinstated.