Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has held emergency meetings about the soaring rate of Covid-19 infections and was expected to announce tougher lockdown measures during a television address this evening.
Key members of the Dutch government were considering stricter social curbs and Mr Rutte took the unusual step of inviting the heads of all political parties in parliament for talks, the national news agency ANP reported.
He was set to address the country from his office in a rare broadcast at 6pm Irish time. New coronavirus infections in the country of 17 million jumped by almost 10,000 in the 24 hours through to yesterday morning, data released by national health authorities showed, the biggest rise in more than six weeks.