More Limburg cities cancel Carnival parties after appeal from health sector

Heerlen and Kerkrade decided to cancel their large-scale Carnival events after an appeal from the healthcare sector to do so.

On Sunday, Helen Mertens of ROAZ, the regional consultation on acute care, appealed in Nieuwsuur for large events to be scaled down due to the coronavirus situation in Limburg. "We had already stopped admissions in hospitals in Limburg over the past weeks. That, of course, causes enormous disruption in our province," Mertens said to Nieuwsuur. "It is really unbelievably busy in Limburg."

It's clear that large events lead to more coronavirus infections, Mertens said. "I think we should all make every effort to reduce the number of infections."

Heerlen and Kerkrade gave heed. Mertens' call led to "internal consultations" in Heerlen, mayor Roel Wever said to 1Limburg. "In the consultation, we looked at whether it would be wise to let Aod op Nuj continue. We have no choice but to cancel the celebration." Brunssum will decide on Monday, Wever said.

Thursday is the 11th of the 11th, traditionally the kickoff to Carnival season. The center and north of Limburg have already decided to cancel major festivities. Noord-Brabant and Zuid-Limburg have not yet.