patrick jane forums

Do you have a curfew there? We have a 6pm curfew and I suppose it's being enforced and perhaps some people are being arrested if they're not complying. There was a city official here in the building yesterday and he said that all the residents, visitors, vendors and staff must wear a face mask so it's mandatory. He didn't say gloves were mandatory.

The strange thing about the Netherlands - when compared to the USA - is that we have laws that are about as strict but then they say we "allow" (gedoogbeleid) the law to be broken. The result is that the cops can arbitrarily arrest one, while the other goes free.
As a for example - smoking weed in the Netherlands is illegal. While we allow people to buy weed in small quantities in coffeeshops, the coffeeshops aren't allowed to grow or import weed, but are allowed to sell it!

There are rules here that you cannot have any "mass gatherings", which is any group of adults larger than 3. While schools are closed children often play together, showing that the whole thing is a charade.

All clubs, cafes, barbers are closed. Coffeeshops still sell weed.
Small shops that are open are only allowed 3 customers in their shops, while the bigger corporations don't have these kind of restrictions.

We are advised to stay indoors as much as possible, but are allowed to go outside (unless in groups). There are also some locations that are closed off.
In most places, except the tourist and shopping (for clothes) areas, there are actually MORE people outside. Often with their children, who are free from school but are now taught through internet by their teachers.

While we have to stay at a distance of 1.5 meter to others in practice everybody comes in closer proximity to others every day.
Only a minority wears masks, often Chinese and elderly people.

I have heard several people talk about their medical (non-urgent) treatment in hospital cancelled.
I heard one man telling me he received an official waring from the cops, when he was doing some excercise at a closed off sports ground. With the warning that the next time he would get a 200 Euro fine.

Because less people travel by public transportation, they let less buses, trams, trains driving.
When I had a flat tire, I travelled by bus. The result of less buses driving, is that everybody on the bus was closer to people than 1 meter.

My son plans to come visit me and spend the night tonight. I just returned from a store. I had to pick up a few things. There are still not things like toilet paper on the shelves. The shelves haven't been restocked or have sold out quickly after being restocked. It's just ridiculous.

Most things are again in normal supply.
I still see many people buying large amounts of toilet paper, which I don't really understand.