Dutch eye new COVID measures after record cases

The Netherlands on Thursday reported a record daily number of new COVID cases, as the government considered reimposing restrictions to curb the spike in infections.

The 16,364 new cases over the previous 24 hours, announced by the RIVM public health institute, smashed the previous record of 12,997 set on December 20 last year.

Twenty-six people had also died over the last 24 hours, the agency said.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte will hold a press conference to announce fresh measures on Friday, with local media reporting that experts have advised a two-week "light lockdown".

The restrictions could include cancelling large events, closing cinemas and theatres and making bars and restaurants shut earlier in the evening.

Schools would however remain open.

The experts have also recommended the politically-sensitive step of restricting access to certain facilities even to those who are vaccinated or who have recovered from the disease, an idea first proposed in neighbouring Germany.

The Dutch cabinet has not yet decided on what steps to take "as the situation is so complex that further consideration is needed", with further meetings to be held later on Thursday, broadcaster NOS reported.

Several thousand people demonstrated in The Hague at the weekend after the government on November 2 said it was reintroducing face masks and other measures to contain the outbreak.

Riots greeted the introduction in January of the Netherlands' first curfew since World War II to deal with a spike in cases last Christmas.