Non-essential shops and bars and restaurants will remained closed after five in the run-up to Christmas but the maximum number of guests at the Christmas dinner table may be increased, the Telegraaf reports, citing sources close to the government.

The cut-off date for the current anti-Covid measures is December 19 but it is unlikely that cabinet members will heed calls to give bars and restaurants a respite, the paper said. This is because the rate of infection and the pressure on hospitals, although stable, remain too high.

However, the number of guests allowed at holiday gatherings is likely to go up from four to eight, the sources told the paper.

Government health experts have recommended extending the Christmas holiday for primary schools, where infection rates have been rising. No decision has yet been taken, but education minister Arie Slob is not in favour, saying it is not in the interest of the children to miss more classes.

The OMT, which advises the cabinet on the best action to take, said a longer holiday will prevent infection from reaching parents and grandparents.

Ministers are meeting RIVM director Jaap van Dissel to discuss the new measures on Friday, followed by another meeting on Sunday.

The next coronavirus press conference is scheduled to take place on Tuesday with any new measures coming into effect on December 19. However, if Tuesday is reserved to announce the new cabinet agreement, the coronavirus measures will be announced on Monday, RTL Nieuws said.