Netherlands 'going into lockdown again' to curb omicron
London, Dec 18: Nations across Europe moved to reimpose tougher measures to stem a new wave of COVID-19 infections spurred by the highly transmissible omicron variant, including a new nationwide lockdown introduced by the Dutch government.
Schools, universities, and all non-essential stores, bars and restaurants in the Netherlands will be closed until January 14 starting Sunday, caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Saturday night.
Residents only will be permitted two visitors except for Christmas and New Year's, when four will be allowed, he said.
The Netherlands is going into lockdown again from tomorrow, Rutte said, adding that the move was unavoidable because of the fifth wave caused by the omicron variant that is bearing down on us.
Before the Dutch announcement, alarmed ministers in France, Cyprus and Austria tightened travel restrictions. Paris cancelled its New Year's Eve fireworks.
Denmark closed theaters, concert halls, amusement parks and museums. Ireland imposed an 8 pm curfew on pubs and bars and limited attendance at indoor and outdoor events.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan underscored the official concern about the climbing cases and their potential to overwhelm the health care system by declaring a major incident Saturday, a move that allows local councils in Britain's capital to coordinate work more closely with emergency services.
Irish Prime Minister Miche l Martin captured the sense of the continent in an address to the nation, saying the new restrictions were needed to protect lives and livelihoods from the resurgent virus.
None of this is easy, Martin said Friday night.
We are all exhausted with COVID and the restrictions it requires. The twists and turns, the disappointments and the frustrations take a heavy toll on everyone. But it is the reality that we are dealing with.
The World Health Organisation reported Saturday that the omicron variant of the coronavirus has been detected in 89 countries, and COVID-19 cases involving the variant are doubling every 1.5 to 3 days in places with community transmission and not just infections acquired abroad.
Major questions about omicron remain unanswered, including how effective existing COVID-19 vaccines are against it and whether the variant produces severe illness in many infected individuals, WHO noted.
Yet omicron's substantial growth advantage over the delta variant means it is likely to soon overtake delta as the dominant form of the virus in countries where the new variant is spreading locally, the UN health agency said.
In the Netherlands, anticipation a government meeting Saturday would result in tougher restrictions caused shoppers to swarm commercial areas of Dutch cities, fearing it would be their last chance to buy Christmas gifts.
Rotterdam municipality tweeted that it was too busy in the center of the port city and told people: Don't come to the city.
Amsterdam also warned that the city's main shopping street was busy and urged people to stick to coronavirus rules.
In the UK, where confirmed daily cases soared to record numbers this week, the government has reimposed a requirement for masks to be worn indoors and ordered people to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative coronavirus test when going to nightclubs and large events.
But the moves are causing anger.
Critics of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's latest coronavirus restrictions flooded Oxford Street, a popular London shopping area, on Saturday.
The maskless protesters blew whistles, yelled Freedom! and told passersby to remove their face coverings.
Hundreds of people blocked traffic as they marched with signs bearing slogans such as Vaccine passports kill our freedoms and Don't comply. Other signs had the faces of Johnson or UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid and read, Give them the boot.
Scientists are warning the British government it needs to go further to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.
Leaked minutes from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies suggested a ban on indoor mixing and hospitality, the BBC reported.
Britain and other nations are also accelerating the pace of booster shots after early data showed that two doses of vaccine were less effective against the omicron variant. Shopping centers, cathedrals and soccer stadiums in Britain have been converted into mass vaccination centers.
During a visit to a mass vaccination pop-up clinic at London soccer team Chelsea's stadium on Saturday, Khan said the running of public services could be impeded by the rapidly spreading variant.
The big issue we have is the number of Londoners who have this virus and that's leading to big issues in relation to staff absences and the ability of our public services to run at the optimum levels,'' he told the BBC.
I'm incredibly worried about staff absences in the (National Health Service), in the fire brigade, in the police service, in our councils across London.''
Omicron is now the dominant coronavirus variant in London and efforts were stepped up to reach people who haven't yet been vaccinated or boosted.
I want to make a direct appeal to the more than 1 million Londoners who are yet to come forward for any COVID-19 vaccinations it's never too late to get your first or second dose,'' the mayor said.
It will help to protect you, your loved ones and our NHS.
In France, the government announced that it will start giving the vaccine to children in the 5 to 11 age group beginning Wednesday. Prime Minister Jean Castex said Friday that with the omicron variant spreading like lightning, the government proposed requiring proof of vaccination for those entering restaurants, cafes and other public establishments. The pending measure requires parliamentary approval.
Demonstrations were planned in Paris to oppose the vaccine pass proposal and ongoing government restrictions.
Thousands of opponents of vaccine requirements and mask mandates protested Saturday in Hamburg, Berlin, D sseldorf and other German cities. In Austria, local media reported the crowds swelled to tens of thousands.
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Belagavi: UT Khader lauds Munawwar Zama's Four-Pillar Education Model
Hubballi/Belagavi: Eminent motivational speaker and educationist Munawar Zama delivered the keynote address at the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Sana Group of Institutions, held at the Presidency Club in Belagavi. The event brought together management heads and senior representatives of educational institutions from across North Karnataka.
The programme was attended by several dignitaries, including U. T. Khader, Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, B. Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, Minister for Housing, Waqf and Minority Welfare, and Naseer Ahmed, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister of Karnataka. During the event, Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan felicitated Munawar Zama in recognition of his contribution to education and youth development.
In his address, Munawar Zama spoke on the importance of effective management and coordination in educational institutions. He presented what he described as a “four-pillar” model of education, comparing an institution to a vehicle that requires all four wheels to function smoothly. According to him, the four essential pillars are management, teachers, parents and students, and imbalance among any of these can affect the overall progress of an institution.
Explaining the role of management, he said leadership plays a central role in shaping the vision, governance standards, infrastructure and learning environment of an institution. He emphasised the need for transparent systems and long-term planning to sustain academic quality and public trust.
He described teachers as the backbone of the education system, noting that their role extends beyond academics to shaping students’ values, confidence and character. He said motivated teachers, supported through professional development and institutional backing, help create an environment that encourages discipline, curiosity and critical thinking.
On the role of parents, Munawar Zama said education is a shared responsibility. He stressed that parental involvement strengthens coordination with teachers and helps reinforce positive habits and values in students. Students, he said, remain the central focus of the educational ecosystem, and their attitude towards learning and growth determines the effectiveness of collective efforts.
He also highlighted the importance of mathematics, urging students to build a strong foundation in the subject regardless of their chosen fields. According to him, mathematics helps develop logical reasoning, analytical skills and structured problem-solving abilities that are relevant across professions.
Speaking on the occasion, Speaker U. T. Khader lauded Munawar Zama’s four-pillar education model, describing it as practical and relevant to the current needs of the education system. He said the framework clearly highlighted the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in building strong and effective educational institutions.
Participants, particularly institutional heads, said the four-pillar framework encouraged reflection on collective responsibility and balanced participation in education.
As part of its Silver Jubilee celebrations, the Sana Group of Institutions, based in Hubballi, organised the North Karnataka Educational Summit 2025. The institution is led by Chairman Mohammed Hussain Malagi, Managing Trustee Ashraf Ali Bashir Ahamed, and Executive Trustees Ayub Savanur, Mohammed Tariq Mujahid and Khalid Malagi.
A key outcome of the summit was the decision to form the Association for Advancement of Minority Institutions, North Karnataka (AAMINK). The association aims to work collectively on educational, administrative and legal issues, with the objective of strengthening minority institutions through cooperation and shared representation.
The Silver Jubilee celebrations concluded with discussions on institutional development and long-term strategies for improving education across the region.
