Sex clubs in Amsterdam’s ‘Red Light’ district were told to close down and long lines formed at marijuana coffee shops on Sunday, as the Netherlands imposed tight restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
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The government ordered all restaurants, cafes and schools shut down until April 6.
The
measure included the famous Dutch bars selling hashish and cannabis and
strip clubs, Health Minister Arie Slob said. They were told to stop
serving customers at 1800 (1700 GMT) on Sunday.
The
neighborhood draws millions of visitors to erotic dance shows, adult
clubs and brothels, where prostitutes pose in lingerie behind red-lit
windows.
The
Casa Rosso, Peepshow, Banana Bar and Erotic Museum were among adult
entertainment venues along the capital’s old canals that said they would
shut.
“In
the interest of the health of staff and guests, the management no
longer considers it responsible to stay open,” said a statement by de
Otten Groep, a company that runs a number of the clubs, Amsterdam’s Het
Parool newspaper reported.
The
number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Netherlands rose by
176 to 1,135 on Sunday, with 20 deaths, the Dutch National Institute for
Public Health (RIVM) said.
The Dutch flower industry also warned on Sunday that it was facing huge losses due to canceled orders during one of the busiest times of the year.
Source: Reuters