Arnhem mayor outraged over lack of social distancing enforcement

Arnhem Mayor Ahmed Marcouch reproached police on Monday for being too lax in dishing out fines for social distancing offenses, after a party was broken up on Sunday morning in which most of those attending went unpunished. "'Not to be repeated' is a heavy understatement here," Marcouch wrote in a letter to the city council on Monday, announcing that the state of affairs will be "thoroughly" discussed with the police.

The party, which took place on Boulevard Heuvelink in the east of Arnhem, was shut down in the early hours of Sunday morning after a noise complaint. Although officers fined the party organizer, the remaining 40 or so guests were let off with warnings. According to Marcouch, the party-goers were "fed up with the corona measures" and wanted to celebrate again.

"The time of warnings has long passed," stated Marcouch.

"I want to emphasize that breaking corona rules is unacceptable. Everyone knows by now that passing on this virus has made about 40,000 people in the Netherlands sick and has killed more than 5,000 Dutch people," he added.

Such gatherings are currently illegal in the Netherlands under social distancing rules to curb the spread of Covid-19. People who are found to be in contravention are subject to fines of 390 euros or 95 euros, depending on whether or not they are minors