We will be live tweeting the press conference when it starts. Scheduled at 19:00.
Mark Rutte is starting, he's there now with Ferdinand Grapperhaus, the minister of justice.
Rutte is starting by talking about the work being done in Brabant, which has been hit the worst so far by the crisis.
He's reiterating the existing regulations. Working from home, not meeting in groups, staying 1.5 meters apart, etc etc
He is VERY IRRITATED at young people who are saying that they aren't adhereing to the rules because they won't get sick. The point is that you can infect older people.
He says that most people are adhereing to the rules. "The offices are empty, the trains are empty..."
Unfortuntaely, you can see that people are behaving "asociaal" by going to the beachers and having corona parties.
Next we are going to hear from Ferdinand Grapperhaus.
Grapperhaus says that most people are adhereing to the rules, but last weekend we saw that far too many people were breaking the rules.
These things costs lives, he says.
He wants people to do grocery shopping when the stores are quieter and to go alone, not with the entire family.
If you want to go outside for a "fresh nose" you should do it alone, and stay 1.5 meters away from other people.
New regulations: The current measures will remain in place until the first of June.
He's going to give more power to mayors to close things like beaches and camping places.
Gathers of larger than three people will be prohibited.
The police will be allowed to give fines for anyone who breaks the rules.
He says that he's had meetings with the stores and they have discussed how to improve things, that can include making the signs clearer and allowed the police to be present to enforce the regulations. If stores don't adhere to the rules, they can be closed.
Mayors will be allowed to forbid groups of three or more people from gathering, this does not include small children.
He ends on that fact that he wants you to stay home. So stay home.
Next we will hear from Hugo de Jonge, the new health minister.
He also wants you to adhere to the measures.
They would like for the hairdresses and the physiotherapists to close.
He's now discussing the situation in Brabant and how patients from Branbant were moved to other parts of the country for treatment to ease the stress on the hospitals there.
Now Martin van Rijn - the minister for medical care - is speaking.
He's discussing the sitaution in the hospitals, as well as the ability to manufacture medical products in the Netherlands.
Now they will take questions, First to Grapperhuas. About what the measures mean for horeca and schools. Bars and restaurants will remain closed until June 1. Schools will be decided about on April 6.
There is a question about why the government doesn't force people to stay home. Grapperhuas says the government doesn't want to determine if its necessary for someone to leave the house at that moment. People need to use common sense.
Now there is a question about fines. He says that the fines could be up to 4,000 euros.
Someone asks why not until May 1. He says this discussion was made in conjuction with the mayors, etc and that it's better for people in terms of planning.
Someone asks what happens if you have a party at home. If you do have people over, you must remain 1.5 metres. But not more than three people.
Another question about fines. The fines for people can be up to 400 euros, for businesses who violate the rules they can be up to 4,000 euros.
Fines will be determined by mayors.
Now we go back to Rutte.
What is new? He says 1.5 meters was not adhered to so now this is a regulation. Also, gatheringss of 3 or more people are banned. Also, if you have a fever, everyone in your family will have to stay home.
He says that these regulations are heavier than what we had before. Don't take your children to the supermarket, don't go out in groups. "Do it intelligently."
There was a question about whether or not we can expect people to act intelligently. Rutte says that's why we have the police.
Rutte says it is possible that if people don't obey the rules, they government will fully lock down.
There is a question about horeca (bars and restaurants). Currently the restrictions are in place until April 6 but Hugo De Jonge says that these can be extended.
Hairdressers, etc also fall under this.
There is a question about producing face masks, etc. Martin van Rijn says that they are in talks with various universities and companies about producing more.
Martin van Rijn is being asked about ventilators, which they are also working on. "Better too much than too little," he says.
There is a question people who are working in grocery stores etc. De Jongen says those folks must also stay 1.5 meters away, maybe that means putting tape by the check outs, etc.
That is all. Our story will be up on the site shortly.
Here ya go: dutchnews.nl/news/2020/03/t…
