World Dutch impose new tighter lockdown amid spiking infections

AMSTERDAM (AP) — The Netherlands moved into a tougher lockdown Sunday that was announced amid spiking infections even before the country recorded its first confirmed cases of the new, more highly transmissible omicron virus variant.

© Provided by Associated Press A lone girl waits for a tram in a near-deserted street full of closed restaurants, bars and shop under a partial lockdown in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. The Dutch government tightened its lockdown Friday night amid swiftly rising infections and ICU admissions. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Bars, restaurants, nonessential stores, cinemas and theaters were among the public places forced to shut from 5 p.m. until 5 a.m. under the new lockdown.

Austrians enjoy final day before impending lockdown

VIENNA (AP) — Austrians were enjoying a last day out in coffeehouses and at Christmas markets Sunday before the government imposes a nationwide lockdown to combat a growing fourth wave of coronavirus infections. The measures, which take effect Monday and are expected to last for a maximum of 20 days but will be reevaluated after 10, require people to stay home apart from basic reasons like getting groceries, going to the doctor and exercising. © Provided by Associated Press People sit at an outdoor cafe on a street decorated with Christmas lights in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021.

Wilko Klippens, who runs the Biessels cafe on the Grote Markt square in the city of Nijmegen, said the latest lockdown will further eat into his savings.

© Provided by Associated Press Closed bars and restaurants under a partial lockdown are seen on a near-deserted Rembrandt plein, or Rembrandt Square, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. The Dutch government tightened its lockdown Friday night amid swiftly rising infections and ICU admissions. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

“We’re going to keep all the staff. You know, they’re going to pay their rent, pay their education. So yeah, it’s on us," he said. "So the money we saved for retirement is the money we pay the staff with and the rent.”

© Provided by Associated Press Staff at Café De Oude Wester close up just after 5pm in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, as a tougher lockdown came into effect starting 5 pm, moving closing time forward three hours amid swiftly rising infections and ICU admissions.(AP Photo/Mike Corder)

The restrictions took effect hours after Health Minister Hugo de Jonge announced that at least 13 travelers who arrived at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on Friday tested positive for the new variant. He urged other travelers who arrived last week from southern Africa to get tested as well.

Tens of thousands march against Belgium's COVID measures

BRUSSELS (AP) — Ten of thousands of people marched through central Brussels on Sunday to protest against reinforced COVID-19 measures that the government has imposed to counter the latest spike in coronavirus cases. Many in the huge demonstration that police estimated at 35,000 people also protested against the strong advice to get vaccinated and any moves to impose mandatory shots. Shouting “Freedom, freedom, freedom,” and singing the anti-fascist song “Bella Ciao,” protesters lined up behind a huge banner saying “Together for Freedom." Amid the crowd, signs varied from far-right insignia to the rainbow coalition flags of the LGBT community.

“We have appealed to everyone ... who has been in southern Africa in the past week to report to the local health authority ... to make a separate test appointment,” he said.

© Provided by Associated Press Café De Nieuwe Lelie closed at 5pm in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, as a tougher COVID-19 related lockdown came into effect starting 5 pm, moving closing time forward three hours amid swiftly rising infections and ICU admissions. (AP Photo/Mike Corder)

The Netherlands has seen a string of record daily infections in recent weeks and an earlier partial lockdown appears to have had little effect. Dutch hospitals have warned that intensive care units could become overwhelmed by the end of the week. The Dutch government has mandated that all nonessential surgeries, such as hip replacements, be postponed to free up ICU beds for COVID-19 patients.

© Provided by Associated Press Two women flash V-signs after laying down roses in the form of a heart as police patrol the city center where a demonstration against COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown was banned in Nijmegen, eastern Netherlands, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

De Jonge said he could not rule out imposing more restrictions leading up to Christmas.

Austria back under COVID lockdown amid angry protests across Europe

New restrictions to control the coronavirus, including a looming vaccine mandate in Austria, have sparked large protests across the continent, including some that have turned violent.About 50,000 people came out to protest over the weekend against the country's 4th coronavirus lockdown and an accompanying national vaccine mandate that will kick in from February. Some 40,000 demonstrators gathered for a rally, organized by the far-right Freedom Party, in the capital city of Vienna alone.

Wilma van Kampen said she would adhere to the lockdown and hoped that the situation does not deteriorate.

“I’m a nurse. I know how sick people get. I see a lot of people suffering from COVID,” she said.

Earlier Sunday, a heavy police presence massed in the eastern city of Nijmegen ahead of a banned protest against coronavirus measures. Police said they arrested or turned away multiple people during checks on roads leading into the city.

© Provided by Associated Press Police patrol the city center after a demonstration against COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown was banned in Nijmegen, eastern Netherlands, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Just over a week ago, a coronavirus protest in the port city of Rotterdam degenerated into violence that prompted police to open fire on rioters who threw rocks and fireworks at officers, vandalized police cars and set fires in the city's streets.

In Nijmegen on Sunday, Monique van Aken said she doesn't expect this lockdown to be the last.

“I think it’s going to be happening all the time. It’s going to mutate, and we have to be prepared for that," she said. "After this variant, new variants will come.”

Netherlands 10 Days Away From Health Care Rationing, Doctor Warns in Lockdown Appeal

The Netherlands saw an overall 39 percent spike in infections in the past week. Children ages 5 to 11 had the highest rate of COVID-19 infections.The head of the national association of intensive care units, Diederik Gommers, told lawmakers that hospitals are filling up with COVID-19 patients and intensive care doctors will soon have to make difficult decisions about which critical patients receive care and which won't.

___

Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.