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 AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A group of hospitals in the southern Dutch
province of Limburg on Tuesday called for the government to take new
measures to stem rising COVID-19 cases, saying they have no space or
staff to handle more coronavirus patients.
Coronavirus infections in the Netherlands, as in other parts of
Europe, are approaching all-time highs despite adult vaccination
levels around 85%.
Last week Prime Minister Mark Rutte's government announced new
measures to slow the spread of the virus, two months after scrapping
social distancing rules. The new steps included the reintroduction
of face masks in stores and broader use of the country's
proof-of-vaccination "corona pass".
However cases have continued to rise and the Netherlands' Institute
for Health (RIVM) is due to release new infection figures later on
Tuesday that may pass the previous all-time high of 12,997 cases
reported on Dec. 20.
"We are heading straight for a healthcare disaster and the whole
system is becoming jammed," the five hospitals in Limburg said in a
letter to Rutte's government. "We're convinced the rest of the
Netherlands will be following us shortly."
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 They urged fresh measures
including beginning immediately with booster
vaccination shots for elderly and vulnerable
patients.
Rutte's government has said it will offer
booster shots to patients over the age of 60
once six months has passed since they were fully
vaccinated.
His government is due to announce whether it
will take fresh measures at a news conference
scheduled for Friday.
(Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Alex
Richardson)
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