Dutch PM apologizes for easing of COVID-19 curbs as cases soar
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Coronavirus restrictions were lifted too soon in the Netherlands, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Monday, and he apologized as infections surged to their highest levels of the year.
Rutte last Friday reimposed curbs on bars, restaurants and nightclubs in an effort to stop a spate of infections among young adults, just two weeks after most lockdown measures in the country were lifted as cases were falling.
“What we thought would be possible turned out not to be possible in practice,” he told reporters Monday. “We had poor judgment, which we regret and for which we apologize.”
Rutte’s apology marked a sharp turn from his stance on Friday, when he repeatedly defended the earlier easing of restrictions as a “logical step” and refused to take any blame for possible mismanagement by his government.
This drew sharp criticism from health authorities, who said the government had thrown caution to the wind as it encouraged young people to go out again.
Coronavirus infections in the Netherlands have jumped to their highest levels of 2021 in recent days since the decision to fully reopen bars, restaurants and nightclubs two weeks ago.
A system of health checks and mandatory COVID-19 tests for entry was put in place, but it cracked under the large number of people looking for a night out after months of lockdown.
So far, the new spike in infections has not led to a notable increase of COVID19 patients in hospitals, given that most new cases are among young people less likely to fall seriously ill, and most of the more vulnerable older people have been vaccinated.
But on Friday, Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said the current low level of hospital admissions could be threatened by an “unprecedented” increase in infections.
Alongside his apology, Rutte acknowledged that his performance at Friday’s news conference had not been his best.
“We were asked to reflect on our own decisions,” he said. “It was not right that we did not do so.”