COVID status requirements are to be scrapped in the Netherlands next week as the authorities remove the final restrictions from the entertainment and hospitality sectors.
From March 23, venues and nightclubs will no longer be required to check the COVID status of those looking to enter. Pre-admission testing has been required for larger nightclubs and large events – hosting more than 500 people – without pre-assigned seating, but this will end next week.
“This means there will no longer be a requirement to show a coronavirus entry pass at any location,” the Dutch government said in a statement.
“In recent weeks, coronavirus infection rates have once again increased. However, the current variant is making people less ill and the number of people being admitted to intensive care is limited. So, the government has decided to further ease the current measures.”
The rules for indoor clubs and venues were the last remaining restrictions after an easing during February. Since then, capacity restrictions for venues have been removed as well as the requirement to show digital COVID-19 passes at most outdoor events. This has now been extended to all indoor events.
At the start of the 2021-22 season, football stadia were allowed to be filled to two-thirds capacity. Professional football clubs were then given permission to use the entire capacity of their stadia from September 20. However, football returned behind closed doors from November 13 to January 25 due to growing COVID-19 concerns.
In February, the government outlined a three-step plan to reopen the Netherlands from what were some of the strictest COVID-19 restrictions in Europe. Coronavirus entry pass requirements (3G) and social distancing rules were scrapped at outdoor venues from February 25.
Image: Antoine J. on Unsplash