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Nightclubs prepare for possible reopening in August

Kaukab Tahir Shairani
July 22nd, 2020


This article is more than 4 years old.

The government will make a call on resuming nightlife on the basis of new coronavirus infections

Nightclubs and discos are preparing for a possible reopening in August in case the government allows this as part of the next phase of society’s reopening following the Coronavirus Crisis.

A political agreement in May had planned that discos and nightclubs could be allowed to reopen in early August. However authorities have yet to announce whether this will push through and if bars will be allowed to open after midnight.

In any case, the Rekom Group, which owns over 90 bars and clubs in the country, is preparing to reopen.

Preparing measures
Adam Felbert, CEO of the group, said that if the virus infection rate continues to be low, the government may allow clubs and bars to remain open until after midnight.

Felbert added that clubs are waiting for the go signal from authorities.

If nightclubs would be allowed to reopen, the Rekom Group will introduce measures to avoid the spread of the virus such as contactless payment and the registration of guests when they enter the clubs.

Virus concerns
However, health experts have expressed concern about the possible transmission of the virus.

Thomas Benfield, chief physician and professor at the Department of Infectious Diseases at Hvidovre Hospital, said that in discos, people often stand close to each other and one person can quickly infect 20 to 30 others.

Instead of resuming the nightlife all at once, Benfield suggested gradual steps.

“First you could extend the bars’ opening hours and see how it goes. If it does not affect the number of infections, then you can consider reopening the discos,” said Benfield.

On Tuesday, the Statens Serum Institut recorded 18 new coronavirus cases.


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Moreover, 21 percent of those surveyed admitted to medicating their kids with paracetamol, such as Panodil, before sending them to school.

The FOLA parents’ organisation is shocked by the findings.

“I think it is absolutely crazy. It simply cannot be that a child goes to school sick and plays with lots of other children. Then we are faced with the fact that they will infect the whole institution,” said FOLA chair Signe Nielsen.

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At the Børnehuset daycare institution in Silkeborg a meeting was called where parents were implored not to bring their sick children to school.

At Børnehuset there are fears that parents prefer to pack their kids off with a pill without informing teachers.

“We occasionally have children who that they have had a pill for breakfast,” said headteacher Susanne Bødker. “You might think that it is a Panodil more than a vitamin pill, if it is a child who has just been sick, for example.”

Parents sick and tired
Parents, when confronted, often cite pressure at work as a reason for not being able to stay at home with their children.

Many declare that they simply cannot take another day off, as they are afraid of being fired.

Allan Randrup Thomsen, a professor of virology at KU, has heavily criticised the parents’ actions, describing the current situation as a “vicious circle”.

“It promotes the spread of viruses, and it adds momentum to a cycle where parents are pressured by high levels of sick-leave. If they then choose to send the children to daycare while they are still recovering, they keep the epidemic going in daycares, and this in turn puts a greater burden on the parents.”