On Tuesday, Denmark lifted nearly all the restrictions authorities had imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19, despite a high incidence rate in the country.
Danes will no longer be required to wear face masks or present COVID-19 health passes indicating proof of vaccination, recovery or a recent negative test result.
Large events will once again be permitted, and nightclubs can pack the dance floor.
When Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced the easing of restrictions on February 1, she said, “We are ready to step out of the shadow of the coronavirus. We say ‘goodbye’ to restrictions and ‘welcome’ to the life we knew before.”
COVID-19 is no longer classified as “socially critical” in Denmark which permitted the government to impose restrictions. Polls suggest that the move is supported widely by the Danish public.
Last September, Denmark attempted a similar loosening of restrictions, but the government was forced to re-impose restrictions gradually as new infection numbers rose.
In the last week, Denmark has counted between 33,000 and 47,000 new cases daily with the surge brought on by the omicron variant. But critically, hospital cases and deaths have been stable, while patient numbers in intensive care units have been falling.
The country’s high vaccination rate has been credited for the absence of an overwhelming number of hospitalized patients with new infection numbers as high as they are. More than 60% of people in Denmark have received three doses of the vaccine, whereas the EU average is at 45%.
Only visitors to Denmark will still be required to present proof of vaccination. Hospitals and nursing homes are being advised to keep certain restrictions, like face masks and the checking of vaccine passes.
The government in Norway also said it will remove most COVID restrictions, despite a spike in cases due to omicron. Hospital admissions have not increased amid the rise in cases, as the country has a high vaccination rate.
Norwegians will no longer have to quarantine if they come into contact with an infected person. Remote working will no longer be compulsory, and incoming travelers will no longer be required to get tested prior to arrival.
“We have finally reached the point where we can lift lots of the health measures we had to live with this winter,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said. “We are going to have to live with a high level of infections — we can live with a high level of infections.”
In Germany, health officials at the Robert Koch Institute reported 162,613 new infections in the last 24 hours and 188 deaths. The seven-day incidence hit a new record, at 1,206.2 cases per 100,000 people per week.
However, the death and hospitalization rates remain stable even as the caseload continues to rise.
On March 16, medical staff in German hospitals and nursing homes will be required to get a COVID jab. The German Federal Employment Agency said 12,000 workers from the nursing sector in December and January are currently on the hunt for new jobs ahead of this critical date. – DW.
