Prognosis

Dutch Premier Rutte Urges Locals to Follow Coronavirus Rules

Cases jumped in recent weeks; deaths have risen at slower pace
Face masks mandatory in some busy Amsterdam, Rotterdam streets

Mark Rutte
Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg

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By Ellen Proper and Diederik Baazil

August 6, 2020 at 5:59 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte urged his fellow countrymen, especially younger people, to adhere to measures aimed at containing the coronavirus pandemic in the first public response to a recent jump in new cases.

A second lockdown can be avoided if Dutch people follow the rules, Rutte said at a press conference in The Hague on Thursday. The 1.5-meter (5-foot) social distancing remains the main overall nationwide rule since most restrictions were lifted from July 1.