Netherlands Imposes Strict COVID-19 Lockdown ‘Again,’ Citing Omicron Spread

People do their Christmas shopping before the Dutch government's expected announcement of a "strict" Christmas lockdown to curb the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, in the city centre of Nijmegen, Netherlands Dec. 18, 2021. Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters

LONDON—Officials moved to reimpose tougher measures in various European nations, citing a new wave of COVID-19 infections spurred by the Omicron variant, with the Netherlands imposing a nationwide lockdown.

All non-essential stores, bars and restaurants in the Netherlands will be closed until Jan. 14 starting Sunday, caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte said at a hastily arranged press conference Saturday night. Schools and universities will shut until Jan. 9, he said.