Thread by @DaveKeating

The Netherlands has imposed a partial lockdown for at least 3 weeks.

Bars, restaurants and shops must all close at 8pm.

There is speculation Belgium will follow, as our caseload here is similar to NL.
theguardian.com/world/2021/nov…

I'm surprised that liberty-loving Netherlands is 1st in Western Europe to impose a lockdown since mass vaxination.

It's quite severe: No more than 4 guests at home, spectator sports banned, home working mandatory.

PM Rutte called them "very unpleasant and far-reaching measures"

NL is 1st W. European country to impose a lockdown since vaccines became available.

Countries in E. Europe, with much lower vax rates, imposed lockdowns a few weeks ago.

Vax rate is biggest determiner of deaths. But some very vaxed countries (🇬🇧🇮🇹🇧🇪) seeing increasing deaths.

Belgium’s Coronavirus Expert Group, which advises the government, has recommended following the Dutch by closing nightlife and spectator sports.

It’s only a recommendation, the government will on Wednesday have a meeting to decide new restrictions. brusselstimes.com/belgium/193730…

The big question: will Belgium go the Dutch route (partial lockdown for everyone), the Austrian route (lockdown for the unvaccinated) or the French route (no new lockdown)?

Or perhaps less severe measures for everyone (work from home, negative test no longer accepted at venues).

This is how Belgium and the Netherlands compare in terms of the current #Covid19 death rate globally.