The Dutch government has banned multi-day festivals this summer and is tightening rules for citizens returning from vacations abroad in the hope of preventing a new spike in the number of coronavirus infections.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Monday that although the number of confirmed cases of the infection was falling after a jump this month to more than 10.000 a day, "the situation remains tense as we continue to see the number of patients in hospitals increasing".
Rute said that the ban on multi-day festivals, at least until September 1, has already been partially implemented due to logistical difficulties with testing all participants every 25 hours. He said, however, that the ban clearly indicates to festival organizers what to do.
The government is also tightening the rules for returning tourists: everyone over the age of 12 will have to provide proof of a negative test for the virus or that they have been fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19.
Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said mobile teams at the borders will control travelers who will be fined if they return without a negative test or proof of full vaccination or recovery from illness.
Slightly less than 60 percent of Dutch adults are fully vaccinated, and 83,5 percent only received the initial dose of the vaccine.
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