Denmark is today becoming the first EU member state to lift all restrictions imposed to stem the COVID-19 pandemic, based on high vaccination coverage of its population and the lower severity of the new coronavirus strain Omicron.
After a first two-month attempt between September and November, masks, health certificates and restrictions on the operation of bars and restaurants will become a thing of the past in this country.
“I’m very happy that this’s coming to an end tomorrow. It’s good for city life, nightlife, to be able to spend more time outside,” Tea Skovgaard, a 17-year-old student, said Monday.
The nightclubs are reopening today, while the restrictions on the number of customers are ending. Minimum restrictive measures remain in force for entry into the country only for unvaccinated visitors arriving in Denmark from a country outside the Schengen area.
This almost complete easing of pandemic control measures comes at a time when new cases of coronavirus in Denmark are approaching 40,000 to 50,000 daily, reaching a record high of almost 1% of the Nordic 5.8 million inhabitants. country.
“We have an extremely high number of adults who have been vaccinated with the three doses, that’s our secret,” said epidemiologist Lon Simmonsen, a professor at Roskilde University near Copenhagen.
More than 60% of Danes have received a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine – up from just under 45% in the rest of the European Union. Including recent cases of COVID-19, health authorities estimate that 80% of the population is protected from severe forms of the disease.
“With the Omicron variant, which is not a serious disease for vaccinated people, we think it makes sense to lift the restrictions,” Simmonsen said.
The release of this variant of the new coronavirus is also expected to lead to a more lasting immunity, allowing us to better receive future waves, the university estimates.
After two years of pandemic, this strategy is supported by the majority of the country’s citizens. 64% of Danes trust the government’s health policy, according to the results of a poll published yesterday by the newspaper Politiken.
“Responsibility”
It is time for everyone to take their responsibilities, Simmonsen also notes.
“Without a health passport, there is a change of responsibility: Danes are increasingly using self-tests at a time when the number of available (antigen tests) is declining. This way those with symptoms will know if they have been infected and are able to stay in home if needed “, he points out.
Isolation for four days is still “recommended” in case of a positive test, according to the National Health Service, but contact cases are no longer required to be quarantined.
The use of a mask and health certificate are also still recommended for hospital visits.
The authorities are optimistic and do not consider new closures, but recommend caution.
“We can not guarantee biology when it comes to biology,” admitted Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who announced last week that she would return “to life as before” from the pandemic.
“It’s really nice to stop this, but will we continue to live without restrictions now? I doubt it,” said Siley Hort, a fast-food vendor who said she was looking forward to hearing from her customers.
This is not the first time Denmark has placed a bet on a return to life before the pandemic. By September 10, the country had lifted the restrictions, before re-introducing the health card in early November.
Museums, cinemas and theaters, which closed just before Christmas, were able to reopen in early January.
Thanks to a lower level of intensive care units than in previous waves, several European countries, such as France or Britain, have announced significant relief or lifting of most of their restrictive measures, despite high incidence rates.
“After two years of pandemics, populations in most countries have reached high levels of immunity, either thanks to the vaccine or in a natural way. This is how it ends, judging by what we have seen in pandemics in the past,” Simmonsen concluded.
Source: AMPE
Source: Capital
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