THE HAGUE: Dutch brothels can reopen on July 1 after being shut for more than three months because of the coronavirus pandemic, the government announced on Wednesday.
The authorisation applies to "all work involving (physical) contact", Prime Minister Mark Rutte told a news conference.
The government had initially targeted September 1 for the reopening of brothels.
As with hairdressers and masseurs, which have already been allowed to resume operations, sex workers are encouraged to verify that their clients do not have COVID-19 symptoms.
"Everyone is very happy with the news that we can finally reopen," said Felicia Anna, president of the union of sex workers in Amsterdam's red light district. "We have no more money," she told the Dutch news agency ANP.
The government also announced that football stadiums can once again open their doors to fans but only under conditions including a mandatory 1.5 metre (five feet) distance between occupied seats.
ANP said the rule would leave stadiums operating at about one-third capacity.
The Netherlands has had some 50,000 reported COVID-19 infections with more than 6,000 deaths.
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