The Netherlands ended their lockdown on Wednesday, which they imposed as the first country in Europe in mid-December because of the omicron mutant.

After all shops were allowed to reopen ten days ago, this now also applies to the gastronomy, culture and events sectors.

They are allowed to remain open until 10 p.m. – under certain conditions – two hours longer than the government’s national expert council had advised.

The closures had led to such great problems and tensions, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Tuesday evening, "that we are consciously pushing the limits of what is possible".

He accepts the risk that in a few weeks he will again be accused of a "yo-yo effect".

Thomas Gutschker

Political correspondent for the European Union, NATO and the Benelux countries based in Brussels.

  • Follow I follow

In the past few weeks, restaurants in several places have not complied with the prescribed closure, cultural workers have complained about discrimination, and there have been demonstrations in Amsterdam.

According to the new rules, cinemas, theaters and other event rooms with fixed seats may be used to a third, with a maximum of 1250 people.

A distance of 1.5 meters must be maintained in bars, as well as in sports stadiums, where the public will be admitted again for the first time.

pressure on healthcare

Access to all locations is only possible with a valid Corona certificate.

However, the 3-G rule remains in place.

The government abandoned its earlier plan to only let in those who had been vaccinated and those who had recovered.

In contrast, there had been massive and violent protests last year.

Rutte admitted that the number of infections is currently “through the roof”.

They were last at around 65,000 reported cases a day, with 17.5 million inhabitants.

The new Health Minister Ernst Kuipers calculated that almost half a million people are already absent every week due to quarantine and that this number will continue to rise.

"There is a high probability that more and more can be open, but that not everyone can remain open due to a shortage of staff," said Kuipers.

The pressure on the healthcare system will also increase again.

That was the main reason the government opted for tough restrictions in December.

"Living longer with restrictive conditions would damage our health and our coexistence," said the left-liberal politician, who most recently managed a hospital in Rotterdam.

Meanwhile, Denmark plans to lift all corona restrictions from February 1st. Health Minister Magnus Heunicke wrote to Parliament that the government wanted to follow a recommendation from experts. The expert council had come to the conclusion that hospital admissions were no longer linked to the number of infections. If Parliament agrees to the lifting, only tests and quarantine rules when entering Denmark remain as measures in the pandemic. The country had already relaxed restrictions two weeks ago, and cinemas and music halls were allowed to reopen. Curfew hours for restaurants and the obligation to wear a mask remained in force.

In Austria, the lockdown for unvaccinated people will end on Monday.

That's what Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) says before the cabinet meeting of the conservative-green federal government.

Despite record high new infections, the situation in the hospitals is stable.

According to Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens), experts expect the number of new infections to climb to up to 40,000 cases in the coming weeks.

However, according to the minister, a lockdown for the unvaccinated is no longer seen as an expedient measure.

However, the 2-G proof in gastronomy and in general trade as well as the FFP2 mask requirement remain in place.

Ireland had already lifted almost all corona rules on Saturday.

Pubs, restaurants and discos have been allowed to reopen since the weekend without requiring proof of vaccination or observing distance rules, Prime Minister Michael Martin said in Dublin on Friday evening.

Participant restrictions for events are no longer applicable, as are regulations for private meetings. The obligation to work from home also ended on Monday.

For international travel, however, the 3G rules still apply, as Martin said.

Anyone who tests positive for the corona virus must continue to isolate themselves.

The mask requirement will also remain in force at least until the end of February.

"I've stood here on many dark days, but today is a good day," said Martin.

The government will no longer restrict personal freedoms if this is not necessary.