What we will hear tonight at the press conference

More of the same. Period. Because of that miserable mutant, we run the risk that the coronavirus spreads even faster and the numbers remain too high, even though they are lower. I really long for a stroll in the hardware store (yes, priorities shift) and to eat some pasta in a full restaurant, but for now, that remains a dream.

At 7:00 PM sharp, Mark Rutte appears with Hugo de Jonge by his side at the NPO or RTL, it just depends on where you tune in. I predict that Rutte will tell us that the lockdown will last longer and that we need to hold on. If he is the bearer of the worst news, he will be accompanied by Irma. Then we move on to Hugo, who will say that the beginning of the end is in sight due to the start of vaccination, but that this does not mean we can relax the measures in the short term. After that, there will be a wave of criticism about the vaccination procedure during the Q&A. But this is purely my estimation, you know.

Of course, inside info has leaked after the cabinet meeting at the Catshuis last Sunday. Rutte arrived in his casual outfit, but armed with a hat and gloves. Because: cold. This is what is currently circulating in the halls of The Hague about tonight's press conference:

1. The lockdown lasts three weeks longer, which means we can only expect relaxations after February 9. Rutte has already indicated that the infection rates are still too high and the mutated variant of the coronavirus is a cause for concern. Analysis of traffic and parking lots of companies also shows that far fewer people are working from home than in March last year, making Covid-19 easier to spread.

2. For now, it seems that primary schools may reopen on January 25, but that depends on how the British variant of the virus behaves. All other education will continue online.

3. Meanwhile, a restaurant in Eindhoven simply opened because the situation is unsustainable according to them; the entrepreneurs have received an official warning. The cabinet is working on expanding the support packages now that the lockdown will last longer.

4. Maybe we will have to deal with a curfew after all. This is because people are still visiting each other too much and too often. However, it is unlikely that this measure will be implemented tonight.

5. The Red Team is calling for even stricter measures, such as travel restrictions and a visiting ban. According to former general practitioner Wim Schellekens, it is necessary to intervene more forcefully, otherwise, we will never come out of lockdown, as reported in the AD.

6. And further, everyone hopes for a bit of perspective. What can we do and when?