Police officers and soldiers must also stick to curfew

“The curfew that is in effect also applies to the members of the armed forces,” said Colonel Jerry Slijngard, manager of the National Coordination Center for Disaster Control (NCCR). Police officers and soldiers who have no business being on the streets between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. will also be urged to return home. If police officers do not comply, they will also be brought to a police station and if soldiers do not comply, they will also have to spend the night at the office of the Military Police. An exception is made for soldiers and police officers who are officially on duty during those hours. “So don’t think that you can use your uniform or badge to roam around freely when you are not on duty,” said Slijngard. “If you are on the street in your uniform when you are not on duty, you will also be treated the same way as everybody else,” said Slijngard who is also a member of the National COVID19 Management Team. The NCCR has received many requests for exemptions but Slijngard explained that exceptions can’t be made for everybody. Some security firms have sent a long list with the names of their security gaurds. The COVID19 Management team reportedly rejected their requests.

Slijngard explained that they must not send a long list but that they must only send a list with the names of guards who are on duty that night. Security guards who are members of the support unit are eligible for exemptions. Security guards with a permanent post must wait until 6 a.m. the next day to return home.