Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte speaks during a news conference in The Hague on April 21. Bart Maat/ANP/AFP/Getty Images

The Netherlands will extend its lockdown for most businesses until May 20 and ban large events until September 1, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said during a news conference on Tuesday.

“As much as I understand that impatience is creeping in, we know that a rapid easing could lead to the virus immediately getting the chance to peak again,” Rutte said.

The uncertainty is still “too large” for businesses that require close contact, like barbers and nail salons, he said.

Primary students will begin attending school in a staggered fashion starting May 11.

“Children in primary education will, to start with, go to school half of the time,” he said. “For example, one half of the students will go one day and the other half will go the other day.”

He said that social distancing for these students is “not realistic,” but that all evidence indicates that their Covid-19 risk is much lower.

Some other primary education institutions like nurseries and special education will be able to open to students full time.