Dutch to ditch most facemasks rules as COVID cases fall

Amsterdam: Face masks will mostly no longer be required across the Netherlands and other restrictions will ease from next week, after a drop in COVID-19 cases, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Friday.

Most limits on group sizes will also be lifted from June 26, as long as people can keep at least 1.5 metres (5 ft) apart, he told a news conference. "This is a special moment", Rutte said. "Many times I have stood here to tell you what you can't do. But now we can focus on what is possible."