Dutch cities order wearing of virus masks
The Dutch cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam on Thursday ordered the wearing of face masks in busy places including the capital's famed red light district in order to limit the spread of coronavirus.
The move comes despite Dutch public health authorities saying on Wednesday that there was still not enough evidence about the effectiveness of masks to warrant a nationwide order.
The Netherlands is one of the last holdouts along with the Nordic nations against widespread use of masks, with many European nations having imposed tougher rules for the wearing of face coverings.
Amsterdam safety authorities said wearing a non-medical mask would now be mandatory from August 5 in busy places including De Wallen—the canalside district where sex workers ply their trade from behind glass-fronted, red neon-lit booths.
The red light district reopened on July 1 after a nearly three-month coronavirus shutdown, with brothels required to take extra sanitation measures.
In the port city of Rotterdam it will also be compulsory from August 5 to wear masks in key shopping districts and covered malls.
The rules apply to people aged 13 and over in both cities. Those who do not comply risk a fine, the size of which has yet to be determined.
On Wednesday, the Dutch government's Outbreak Management Team said it saw "no evidence" to make the wearing of masks compulsory but said regional authorities may take different measures.
But Prime Minister Mark Rutte issued a fresh appeal for people to stick to social distancing measures after coronavirus infection rates rose again over the past week, especially among young people.
The Netherlands has reported a total of 6,145 deaths—half of whom were people aged 83 years or more—and more than 53,000 cases since the outbreak began.
© 2020 AFP
