Eight more Dutch regions to be classified as high-risk for coronavirus: Report
An additional eight of the 25 security regions of the Netherlands will be categorized as being at higher risk for coronavirus infections beginning on Friday. They will be classified at level 2, or "Worrisome," along with six of the regions which make up most of the Randstad, according to reports by broadcaster NOS and the Telegraaf.
At least eight of the ten largest cities in the Netherlands will be covered by the classification. It was not immediately clear if new social restrictions would be imposed on the regions which will escalate to level 2.
The new security regions to be added to the list include:
- Brabant-Noord (Den Bosch)
- Brabant Zuidoost (Eindhoven)
- Flevoland (Almere)
- Gelderland-Zuid (Nijmegen)
- Gooi- en Vechtstreek (Hilversum)
- Groningen
- Zaanstreek-Waterland (Zaanstad)
While NOS reported that Zuid-Holland-Zuid (Dordrecht) would be the eighth region, sources told the Telegraaf that Gelderland-Midden (Arnhem) would be on the list. While Arnhem is the 13th largest city in the country, the addition of Dordrecht, Hilversum and Zaanstad would place the entirety of the Raandstad under high alert.
"We are in talks with those regions to come up with a package of measures that matches what is going on there. So we are looking at which measures are appropriate to suppress the virus there," Health Minister Hugo de Jonge told NOS.
The six regions of the Randstad which went to level 2 on Sunday evening faced new restrictions with bars forced to close by 1 a.m., and a maximum of 50 people for any indoor or outdoor gathering. Exceptions were made for many events, including religious gatherings and funerals.
The security regions also established their own additional rules which were largely limited to new marketing campaigns and increased monitoring of bars, restaurants and other places where people are more likely to gather.