Lockdown restrictions are set to be lifted in Denmark by September 10th after health officials said Covid no longer poses “a critical threat” to the country. Health Minister Magnus Heunicke has, however, warned that the Government “will not hesitate to act quickly” if the situation becomes worse once again.
More than 70% of Danes are fully vaccinated and the low levels of COVID in the country led the Health Minister on Friday to announce that the virus is now “under control”.
“The epidemic is under control, we have record vaccination levels. That is why, on September 10th, we can lift the special rules we had to introduce in the fight against COVID,” Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said.
However, he stressed that “the epidemic is not over” and said the Government “will not hesitate to act quickly if the pandemic once again threatens the essential functioning of society”.
Denmark was one of the first countries to introduce a partial lockdown in March 2020, shutting down schools and non-essential businesses and services.
It has relaxed and reinforced its measures throughout the pandemic, and in April introduced a ‘corona passport’ granting holders access to businesses like restaurants, cinemas, gyms and hair salons.
That requirement was already lifted in some places such as museums on August 1st, and masks have not been mandatory on public transport in Denmark since August 14th.
A number of further restrictions are set to end on September 1th.
From the start of the month, people will no longer be required to show a valid corona pass to sit in restaurants and bars, though a pass will still be required to enter nightclubs and other large events such as football matches until September 10th.
The change in the classification of COVID will not, however, affect rules on travel into Denmark, which are governed by a separate inter-party agreement which is due to expire in October, a spokesperson for the Health Ministry said.
Denmark has not seen more than five COVID-related deaths per day since February.
Source: Daily Sceptic